Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Millenial Kosher - Truly a Cookbook for the Times

Today's connected foodie Millenials surely have heard of culinary blogger Chanie Apfelbaum, if not by her real name, certainly by her social media handle - Busy In Brooklyn.
I love her recipes, so when the folks at Artscroll contacted me and offered to send me a complimentary review copy or her debut cookbook, Millennial Kosher: Recipes Reinvented for the Modern Palate, I was all in. The volume was billed as collection of modern, cultural, trendy, and bold dishes that reflect her passion for reinventing traditional foods with a modern vibe, and it certainly did not disappoint.
Now if you are looking for basic, "more of the same", onion-soup-mix-and-margarine-in everything recipes, this book is NOT for you. These recipes have an emphasis on fresh and seasonal ingredients, less processed foods and healthier non-dairy alternatives. There might be a few more unique ingredients, but I urge you not to leave them out, as they add so much character to the dishes. If you haven't tried smoked paprika, nutritional yeast and pomegranate molasses before, here is your chance! You won't regret it!!! 
Some recipes are quick to prepare, while others take a bit longer. There is definitely a modern flair to these recipes, but don't let that scare you. They are positively delicious! On my first round of cooking I made (parve) pizza chickpeas, broccoli burgers, butternut squash quiche (made with coconut milk - lighter than your mother's version) and mile high smore's pie.
All in all I really liked this volume. You don't need to be a millennial, but you do need to be an adventurous cook.