Customer Reviews

The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen: 70 Ways to Have Fun with Your Kids and Make Your Family's Celebrations Special

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When Bon Appetit and other prestigous publications give this one rave reviews, that's a hint that you might have a "find"...and they are right. From Sabbath to Passover, there are recipes that are delicious, generally very easy to prepare and clearly explained. Although designed for children, I think this one would be excellent for anyone who wants to become an excellent Jewish cook. It is like having a crash course in both the essentials and some special variations.

The book is extremely attractive and there are additions which make it special, such as suggested prayers, historical info about each holiday, great illustrations, etc.

Although the vast majority of the recipes are very simple, when one is a bit more complex, there are often step-by-step illustrations. An example would be Children's Cholent, where every single part of the process is pictured, right up to putting the dish in the oven.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that many of the recipes were unique or new to me.

ANOTHER PLUS: The author suggests which parts of the recipe might be appropriate and easy for a child to handle and which should be done with supervision.

This book is essential for any holiday family traditions. Ms. Nathan not only shares some wonderful recipes (try the Orange Chicken - it's easy, fun and OUT OF THIS WORLD!......) but she also shares her family's traditions and give you wonderful ideas to enhance your own celebrations. My family loves this book and we refer to it on a regular basis.

I would give it more stars if I could!....

I bought this book a year ago and rediscovered it on the book shelf. I am so upset with myself for waiting so long to try these recipes with my kids!!!!

Today my daughter made her first challah using the recipe from this book and it turned out absolutely BEAUTIFUL! We took the advice of the author and used the third portion of dough to make some cinnamon bread for Shabbat morning breakfast but we all had to sample it when it came out of the oven. Oh yum! It is delicious. It's so good that there is a little less than half of it left for tomorrow. I had to hide it from the kids or it would all be gone!


We are also making the Friday Night Pot Roast recipe and the whole house smells so good. I use to buy a mixture in a jar for making my brisket (Bubbe's) but this tastes (I had to sample it) and smells just like the one in the jar. Well, actually it smells and tastes a little better because it's homemade. :)

One of the most enduring features of this book are the notes and memories presented before each recipe. You learn many interesting facts, history and the author's own family life. You feel like you are chatting with Joan Nathan over a cup of tea.

Each chapter has a history of the holiday and customs associated with each. Then come the wonderful recipes.

I love that the instructions are written clearly for adult AND child. Each recipe also notes where adult help is needed and what steps can be entrusted to a child.

This is a great book for making memories throughout the year. We are going to have a lot of fun eating our way through the holidays and creating memories.

This is a great book for all children! Recipes are easily accomplished and there is a wealth of information about Jewish holidays and culture. My Jewish friend was thrilled to have it for her grandchildren who are at the perfect ages for learning in the kitchen.

I couldn't disagree more with the first review. With two small children, I rely heavily on this book as Jewish holidays come and go and have enjoyed many cooking experiences with my kids as a result. Furthermore, the recipes are consistently delicious! My kids and I have prepared Yemenite High Holiday Stew and Bread for Yom Kippur, Apple-Honey cupcakes, Hamantaschen, Aunt Lisl's Butter Cookies, and the ice-cream cupcake menorah featured on the cover, as well as a tender and delicious challah. There are many suggestions throughout for ways children can take part in the cooking, and often the menu suggestions accompanying each holiday have given me ideas of foods my children will actually eat. As a cook and an authority on Jewish cooking, Joan Nathan is no slouch; her contributions to the New York Times cooking section are significant and her adult-oriented cookbook "The Jewish Holiday Kitchen" is an exhaustive resource of Jewish dishes that is equally wonderful. In fact, I was reluctant to try this book because I doubted she could switch gears and write a children's cookbook that was really useable, but I contend she has done it! I can't imagine my cookbook library without this book.

I would not even give this book one star. I was VERY disappointed with this book. I was expecting a CRAFTY kitchen book for childen based on the pictures on the front cover. This book primarily consists of traditional recipes for the holidays but gives instructions such as child mixes this.. adult stirs that. Example of receipes include: grape juice, hallah, chicken soup, matzah balls, pot roast, peeling a pamagranet, etc. There is nothing unique or special about these recipes. If you are buying it for your children- don't. and if you are buying it for the recipes- don't. There are many other better Jewish holiday cookbooks out there to choose from.

Our family received this book as a gift. Each one of my children enjoyed read the book like a novel. Who would think of a cookbook as kid-friendly reading material? They liked the pictures and stories interspersed within the recipes. Many of the tips presented are the kind a grandma might teach a younger child. Tips like how to get young children safely involved in the kitchen including how to teach using a knife safely. In a world where people have vastly forgotten the meaning of family, books like this fill the gap. The traditions presented are mostly Rabbinic. The items shown on the cover are included in the book.