Reviewing Joy of Kosher by Jamie Geller
I love a good book. I love a good recipe too. Not often do do you find both of them bound together. While I’ll tear through the pages of a Brad Thor thriller in a weekend, I tend to dip in and out if recipe books to see what catches my attention.
Jamie Geller’s recent book grabbed me, not just because I consider her a friend but because the stories of her family and her kitchen really do invite you into her life. She is as friendly in the pages of her book as she is in real life and almost every recipe in introduced with a short and personal tale that made me smile each time.
The personal touch reminds me of what I loved when I reviewed Rinku Bhattacharya’s “Five Spice Bengali Chronicles” and to prove that I actually did read Jamie’s book, it’s fitting that I’m writing this review on my iPhone in the dark while soothing our one year old back to sleep!
The recipes shared in Joy of Kosher will fit every cook. For those looking for a quick and simple way to be in and out of the kitchen, Jamie’s recipes can be dressed down. If you want something with some extra pizazz, dress it up. I am particularly fond of the suggestion to serve chocolate mousse in a variety of different sized shot glasses on a silver platter so everyone can choose the portion they see fit!
If you know me, you’ll know how much I loathe baking or making desserts, but as I browsed the sweets, I found myself folding down page corners thinking “I must try that!”.
I’m amazed to learn how Jamie feels about her kitchen and love reading about the road she walked before writing her first book, but for those details, buy the book! If you enjoy easy-to-follow recipes, you’ll enjoy this book. If you want to know how Jamie’s life lead to a culinary career despite how much she’d prefer to be out of the kitchen, then you’ll be turning the pages eager to read more.
All in all, this makes an awesome channukah, thanksgiving or “just because” gift, and I am pretty sure that once you read this book, you’ll never serve chocolate mousse the same way again.
