Essential Book of Jewish Festival Cooking

From sisters Phyllis and Miriyam Glazer comes a unique and in-depth guide to holidays of the Jewish year, complete with creative, seasonal recipes based on their traditional agricultural and biblical origins, as well as folklore, history, and rituals. Deeply rooted in ancient rituals, the seasonal rhythms of the land of Israel, and biblical commandments, the Jewish holidays mark a time for Jews around the world to reconnect with their spiritual lives, celebrate their history, and enjoy good food. With The Essential Book of Jewish Festival Cooking, Phyllis and Miriyam Glazer explore the Biblical origins of festival foods, guiding readers toward an even richer experience of the Jewish holidays. This landmark volume will answer a central, yet often neglected, question: Why do we eat what we eat on these important days? Both a cookbook and a valuable source of Jewish observance, it offers more than 200 creative, delicious recipes for the holidays, along with thorough, illuminating discussions of the seasonal and Biblical significance of traditional dishes and ingredients. Unlike most Jewish holiday guides, this book approaches the Jewish calendar in terms of its four types of new years, as early Jews experienced them. The seasonal recipes draw on agricultural cycles and their links to Jewish festivals, and are inspired by the ingredients available around each holiday. For Passover, the Glazers offer such robust spring dishes as Roasted Lamb with Herbed Rice and Seasoned Currants, and Marinated Fennel with Olive Oil and Herbs. For Shavuot, also in spring, when milk and dairy products are plentiful, they provide recipes for creamy treats such as traditional Blintzes, Buttermilk Pie, even a luscious Tarragon-Scented Goat Cheese Cheesecake. For Sukkot, in the fall, the recipes celebrate the first fruits of the harvest season, offered at ancient temples: figs, grapes, pomegranates, olives, and dates. Each recipe is simple and accessible, and offers a real connection to the rhythms of the Jewish year. The Essential Book of Jewish Festival Cooking is practical and inspiring, as it deepens our understanding of holiday traditions and promises to become an indispensable resource for Jews across the country and the world.