I figure you may be wondering about my new Joy of Kosher cookbook, like what’s the Mah Nishtanah this time. So I interviewed myself, asking the questions people ask me. If I missed anything you just gotta know, ask in the comments and I will answer you – a whole lot more fun than talking to myself.
Q: So this is your third cookbook. Did you always want to write cookbooks?
A: I always wanted to eat. But cooking? Not so much. I had to learn out of necessity, so I taught myself, struggling through epic failures till I could serve something edible.
Q: Is “Hubby” a real person?
A: Realer than real. He’s the reason I learned to cook. Just my luck, he comes from a family of professional caterers and naturals in the kitchen. What’s a girl to do?
Q: What about “Angel Face” and “Miss Bouncy,” are they real too?
A: Absolutely. They’re my kids – along with Little Momma, Bruiser and The Baby. This book is all about family, so naturally I brought my family into it. Their real names are a real mouthful since each kid has two names and one even has three, so the nicknames work well. You’ll see them in full color throughout the book being themselves, enjoying life – jumping, laughing, running, eating. When it comes to prancing in front of a camera, they inherited that gene from me. I couldn’t believe it when the baby waited for the camera to be pointed at her before she would smile.
Q: ‘Scuse me, but cookbooks are about food. Where does your family come in?
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A: ‘Scuse me, but who eats all that food? I think food is very personal and has to fit your family dynamic. My family is a major influence on my cooking. Like all family cooks out there, I have to find healthy , satisfying recipes my kids will actually eat, taking all their biases into consideration (“Oooh, that looks too squishy.” You know what I mean.) So when people think of food, they immediately think of whom they’re serving it to and what the reaction will be. We all want to hear, “Yummy! More, please.” I had lots of fun translating my family’s favorite cozy weekday meals into fancy-shmancy dishes too. Now it’s my guests who say, “Yummy! More please.”
Q: The recipes are that good?
A: My best! I put together more than 100 of my go-to everyday foolproof recipes (I know because I’m the fool who worked them over again and again) as well as the ones I use for holidays and special occasions. They were tested over and over till we got them perfect. Hubby ate the mains; I did desserts. Somebody had to. Then we doubled the number of dishes by providing Dress Up/Dress Down options. So you’ve got over 200 possibilities here, all easy and all absolutely delicious.
Q: I’m glad you mentioned that. In the book’s title, what do “Dress Them Up” and “Dress Them Down” mean?
A: The whole idea of this book is that we don’t have to compartmentalize our cooking brains into “Everyday” and “Holiday.” We can build bridges. I take those fave recipes of mine and show you how to dress them up as a tantalizing, elegant dish worthy of entertaining or dress them down for Wednesday night din din. And we’re not talking about boring “kid food.”
Q: You have said that this cookbook is your “most personal”? Why is that?
A: In my other books I told some personal stories, but in this one I tell a TON of personal stories. I also share diary entries and pictures from our family albums and talk about my life and the people in it a lot, lot more – I guess because appreciating my approach to food has a lot to do with knowing what makes me tick. My food and I are inseparable in more ways than one. And hey, it’s a lot of fun to write that stuff. People tell me, “This book is more than just great food; it’s a great read”. You’ll laugh with me. Some people even cry with me.
Q: Care to provide a preview of some of your fave recipes?
A: Yup, with pleasure and pictures too!
From left to right: Pecan Sticky Buns, Chocolate Chip Cookie Cream Stacks, Birthday Pancakes, Peaches and Jam Sweet Pot Cake, Soba, Sweet Sesame Tofu, and Vegetables, Moroccan Roasted ChickenOrder your copy of the Joy of Kosher cookbook.
🙂 So exited for this new cookbook!
I practically live out of my Quick and Kosher cookbook. I use it either as light reading or as a base for about good deal of my suppers. Can’t wait for the new one to come out!
I wrote my first cookbook when I was in HS for my Mom and have been an avid reader of any cookbooks I could get my hands on since. I’d just love to win this.
Are you coming to LA? I use your books all the time and love the web site to help me with meals for the Yom Tov. These three day marathons are a challenge
This is going to make my Hubby’s gift-giving responsibilities very, very easy come Chanukah 🙂
Cannot WAIT to add it to my kitchen wall!!! and kitchen repertoire!
Please consider Jersey for your appearance schedule 🙂
Sitting at work and salivating! Hatzlocha.
Thanks Chanie SOOOOOOO much!
Elana thanks! I really try — I like to call it real food, for real life!
Jenniefine! YAY!!! Thank you so much – so happy you found us!
LOL!!! Thank you! Truth is I try to eat really healthy breakfasts and lunches and then enjoy one of these dinners with my family and so far haven’t had to buy a higher skirt size 🙂
I hope I get to LA and the West Coast… will certainly try! Thanks Rachel so much!
It looks great, can’t wait to see it in person!
cant wait to check it out, your recipes are so practical and yummy!!!
I just discovered your amazing cookbooks–they were on the kitchen counter of the home I stayed in over Rosh Hashana, and I stayed up late to read through them. I’m excited to add a lot of your recipes to my repertoire!
Hi, I have made so many of your recipes in the past and they all turned out fantastic. Thank you so much for your great ideas. Just looking at those pictures I can see I will have to buy clothes in a higher size when the book comes out…
Hope you’re coming to Los Angeles! Love your recipes!!
Yay Chaya thanks so much!
well said! couldn’t agree more.
I will – but there are some healthful options here — the Raw Root Vegetable Salad, the Avocado Butter Lettuce and Basil Salad with Lemon Dressing, Moroccan Chicken, Soba Noodles with Sweet Sesame Tofu and Sweet Potato Cake are all nice options… and that’s just from the picts shown above…there are more in the book!
Yay thanks so much!
Ruthie – you are so awesome for saying so! thank you! Chicago is not yet on the tour — but if someone can get together 3 events in the area I would love!!!! to come. It was one of my absolute FAVORITE!!!! most special stops from my previous tours.
hi Dena!!!! Shana Tova to you from Israel to Chicago! I also hope you get to come to Israel!!!
so happy you are enjoying the videos and thanks so much for the feedback – we will consider all these ideas for posts for JoyofKosher.com in the near future. Thanks so much!
it is soooooo delish a total keeper!
Love your QUICK & KOSHER cookbook the recipes are great and so easy to make I would love to have your new cookbook.
One can never have too many cookbooks.
Some of the recipes look like lots of fun. I admit that I am worried about the calories in some of them looking at the pictures. Please think about a great lower calorie/healthy food book for your next one.
Would love your new cookbook! I really enjoy your other ones especially the first! I use it all the time. Always looking for different ideas so this would be great!
Your recipes are a G-dsend when I need original, delicious ideas!! Is Chicago on your tour?
Hi Jamie- I loved meeting you in Chicago! I can’t wait for you to come back again (or me to come to you in Israel G-D willing!!!) to sign this new one of yours! I love both of your cookbooks and use them often 🙂 – wishing you and your family a Shana Tovah!!
Thanks Jamie for all your recipes. Oftentimes, I find that all I need is a recipe idea for most meals, beside desserts. I think you would do really well to write a section of ideas of what to pair together for meals,to learn the basics of various herbs and spices, and on which kinds of foods to use them. And perhaps we could go for a little healthier spin? Using maple syrup in place of sugar, spelt flour instead of wheat flour, and putting in wholesome additions such as flaxseed, chia seeds, quinoa, and other great additions that can slip in unnoticed. I love the videos!
That Moroccan Chicken dish like something that would go over big at my table Can’t wait to try it!!
Thanks Debra! Good Luck!
Thank Malkie! I appreciate it!
LOL Helene — we don’t make the door stop kind in my house!
Hey Rachel – you do too!! I totally appreciate the comment!
Oh Ellen I am psyched too!!! Will be adding “psyched” to my repertoire now!!!
Miriam well then you are just totally awesome!!! And I totally mean that 🙂 Thank you so very much!!! Shana Tova Umetuka to you and yours!!! (Can you count how many !!!! I have in the reply?)!!!
I can’t wait either!!! it is crazy yummy!
thanks Sally!!!!
I am so enjoying your recipes as I cook my way through. This cookbook would add so much to my repertoire. Fingers crossed!
Love your recipes, and would love this cookbook.
Hi Sheri!!!! so great to hear from you again! Great luck and keep in touch!
Its absolutely heaven in a potato kugel!
oh yay!!!!! thanks so much for saying so. Next Joy of Israel premieres Tuesday October 1 9pm EST.
YAY thanks Helene so much!
Thank you Miriam SOOOOO much! Bli neder we will get to do an Israel Giveaway – will keep you posted!
oh its so beautiful you are going to love it!
your recipes look great…can’t wait to try one for a potato kugel that doesn’t come out like a door stop!!!
I would love to win!! Im 17 and I met you in fairway paramus! I love to cook!!!
Hey Jamie can’t wait for the new cookbook to come out! You rock!