The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen: 70 Fun Recipes for You and Your Kids, from the Author of Jewish Cooking in America [Paperback]

Joan Nathan (Author)

Book Description

Seventy child-friendly recipes and cooking activities from around the world will draw the entire family into the spirit and fun of preparing Jewish holiday celebrations. Covering the ten major holidays, each of the activities has a different focus--such as Eastern Europe, biblical Israel, contemporary America--and together they present a vast array of foods, flavors, and ideas.

The recipes are old and new, traditional and novel--everything from hamantashen to pretzel bagels, chicken soup with matzah balls to matzah pizza, fruit kugel to Persian pomegranate punch.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Revised from the 1987 edition, The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen covers Jewish holidays throughout the year. Nathan, author of the acclaimed Jewish Cooking in America (LJ 2/15/94) and an authority on the subject, provides both recipes and ideas for crafts to make with children, as well as religious background on each holiday for teaching them about their heritage. This edition features 20 new recipes and a more inviting format, with 30 new illustrations. Timely and recommended for most collections.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6, younger with adult help. New illustrations and 20 new recipes mark this revision of a 1988 book by a veteran food writer who specializes in Jewish cooking. Like many Jewish cookbooks for grown-ups, this is arranged by holiday and has recipes for expected celebrations; it also contains recipes for holidays not routinely included in cookery roundups, for example, Tu B'Shevat. The presentation of the directions is also unusual. Rather than being listed step-by-step, they are organized into age-appropriate tasks--work for a child, for a child with adult help, for an adult. Middle-graders accustomed to using appliances and cutlery may be slightly put off by this approach, the good recipes notwithstanding. Consequently, parents with young children who want to turn meal preparation into a family affair will be the book's biggest and best audience. The previous edition was not available for comparison. Stephanie Zvirin --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Schocken (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805210563
• ISBN-13: 978-0805210569
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #538,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Special Diet > Kosher

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent compilation of recipes for the holidays!, November 20, 2005

By 

K. Corn "reviewer" (midwest, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen: 70 Fun Recipes for You and Your Kids, from the Author of Jewish Cooking in America (Paperback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of my favorite recipes are in this book!, January 8, 2002

By 

Helene Gelman "heleneg" (New City, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen: 70 Ways to Have Fun with Your Kids and Make Your Family's Celebrations Special (Hardcover)

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!....

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great recipes and ideas for the family, November 30, 2007

By 

K. Schumann (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen: 70 Fun Recipes for You and Your Kids, from the Author of Jewish Cooking in America (Paperback)

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.