In the 7 months since JCBC has been published, we’ve experienced an overwhelming amount of support and encouragement from the Jewish community… and beyond. There have been, however, those who criticize us for putting together a non-Kosher “Jewish” cookbook. Here’s my answer: I wanted to write a book that would appeal to the very broadest audience of people who love Jewish comfort food. As I, myself, don’t keep kosher I thought it would be hypocritical to publish a cookbook that presented itself as such. Keeping kosher is a wonderful tradition, but it is not my place to judge anyone’s beliefs or decisions on how to interpret or practice their own religion. Just encouraging people to connect with tradition, family, friends and food is enough for me.
On that note, I thought I would share a fabulous review from the wonderful Ellie Geier of Jewish-Retailer.com. I think it illustrates how the book can be a fun, great tool for anyone- with a little adaptation!
My cup runneth over … literally. I received two cookbooks to review for you, and while they’re each completely different, they’re both welcome additions to anyone’s cookbook shelf.
The first one, Jewish Cooking Boot Camp, is written by a mother-daughter duo, Andrea Marks Carneiro and Roz Marks who combine a sense of style with a sense of humor. and while it takes the novice really back to basics, it’s got some terrific recipes that don’t make the cook look like a beginner. There is a lot of delightful family history included – you know, the kind that makes your mouth and eyes water with joy – as well as detailed instructions on everything from Once and for All: Cleaning a Chicken to The Burning Questions: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Brisket to Once and for All: The Question of Kosher.
There are songs for the holidays as well as ways to creating your own family Haggadah. With the Boot Camp, you can prepare your first Shabbat dinner … as well as a family Seder … an intimate gathering to a really hip cocktail party.
Unfortunately, the book has one drawback and it would depend on the rules of your store – it’s not totally kosher. For instance, there are marshmallows included in a few of the recipes – just make sure that they’re kosher or, if possible, use marshmallow crème or fluff. Or this one, which I’m going to make for our Jewish Women International boat trip – JWI does not permit treif, so the word crabmeat would raise the hackles of any Jewish group. Instead of crabmeat, you can either use the fake available in the stores (it’s kosher) or use what I’m going to use – flaked halibut.
