Cookbook review: Kosher by Design Teens and 20-something

Kosher By Design Teens and 20-Somethings: cooking for the next generation
by Susie Fishbein

from Goodreads:
This seventh volume in Susie Fishbein's bestselling Kosher by Design cookbook series brings cooking wisdom and party planning guidance to a new generation of at-home entertainers. Featuring recipes that are fun, diverse, healthful, requiring no special equipment and easy to make, this is the perfect cookbook for even the simplest kitchen.Susie says, "This is a cookbook that's been years in the making as I've considered how to make home cooked meals an exciting alternative to the fast food culture. Now anyone from teens and up can savor the delicious rewards of foods you'll make that'll have your family and friends clamoring for more! "100 delectable brand new recipesOver 100 full color photosOver 240 pagesHealthy ingredients for delicious dining inComprehensive cross-reference indexInspiring youth-oriented entertaining ideas: The Big Game Baseball Theme Party, Board Game Night, Arts and Crafts Party, Backyard Bash


I should probably start by saying I'm not Jewish.  I can't attest to the "Jewishness" of this kosher cookbook.  My knowledge of kosher laws extends to "no pork" and "no meat and dairy togethah".  That is all.
But.
But, I like to cook, and I like to be able to cook for all of my friends, and if I'm eating something, I don't care if it's kosher, vegetarian, vegan -- or magical, for that matter -- it just has to taste good.  So to all of the other non-Jews out there (Gentiles?) who are wondering why the hell you should spend your time reading this review or picking up this cookbook, let me tell you -- because it's awesome.

This is a really well put-together cookbook with a good diverse mix of recipes (both in content and difficulty).  There is a full-color picture of ever single recipe, and I can't stress enough how impressive and important that is.  My mouth watered flipping through this book.  I tabbed a lot of recipes as to-make, and that's always a good sign when in the market for a cookbook.

The goal of the book, it seems, is to appeal to a younger set, and on that, I think it's fairly successful.  I mean, it still may not be the most usable fora college kid in a dorm with only a hot-plate, but the recipes offered are easy to follow, there's a great variety in terms of skill and taste, and there is a section in the back devoted to party planning and bringing it all together.  I ♥ this, and I love when cookbooks have this, even if I don't actually need help planning a party or hostessing.  Reading through it just gets you in the mood for a little shindig.

The recipe I ended up making was a recipe for scones.  It was a pretty standard scone recipe, other than that it had an egg wash rather than a cream wash, which I guess isn't that out of the ordinary.  I made it for my bookclub's discussion of Soulless (and another member made treacle tart!)  Along with the tea and cocoa I brought, it was kinda perfect, and the scones turned out just as scones should (mine were blueberry).  I will be making them again, and trying more of the recipes in this book.



[Note: I received a copy of this for review.]