Bubbe and Me in the Kitchen: A Kosher Cookbook of Beloved Recipes and Modern Twists

As a serious home baker and cookbook collector, I have certain expectations of any cookbook I bring home. Not only because my shelf space is limited, but because I only like to own cookbooks that I plan to use. This is not a coffee table book that just sits and collects dusts; you will want to throw on your apron and cook and bake your way through every page! Bubbe and Me in the Kitchen is fantastic for several reasons and checks all the boxes of what I'm looking for in a cookbook.

First, the layout is perfect. I'm very particular about the way recipes are laid out, and it drives me crazy when the ingredients and instructions aren't in a user-friendly layout or font. But this cookbook makes it extremely easy to follow a recipe.

I also love the types of recipes in this book because they're just unique enough to complement my already large recipe collection, without being so weird that I can't find the ingredients or wouldn't be able to satisfy my guests' appetites. There are cute and/or interesting anecdotes before each recipe, along with helpful tips. I can't wait to make the rye soft pretzels with raspberry mustard. And the apricot pistachio babka is incredible. The maple Dijon-glazed brussels sprouts are on my short list to make soon, and the butternut purée with roasted garlic and ginger is easy and heavenly. The photos in the book are appetizing, and in color.

The author's writing style is friendly and fun, and overall, I get a very good feeling about this book!

Also, worth noting that while this book is a kosher cookbook, the recipes can be enjoyed by anyone! I do not keep strict kosher, and it would be very, very simple for me to swap out soy milk in a recipe with real milk, or change out other ingredients the author suggested for kosher reasons, since I don't need to use those alternatives.

Get this book! Two big thumbs up!

I have a lot of "modern" Jewish cookbooks, and this is my new favorite! I made a few of the recipes for this year's seder, and each was better than the next. The Matzah Spanakopita was described by one of my guests as a "showstopper". The veggie broth was rich and tasty. The Cauliflower Cous Cous was unique and light--something hard to find in Passover dishes.

I will be buying this for everyone who cooks in my family. Great book!

Sent it to a Yioddisha Momma who says she loves it.

I am not even Jewish, but I am obsessed with this book! The history and little stories throughout the book are heartwarming and fun! The author makes you feel at times that you are right in the kitchen with them! I never realized how hearty and flavorful Kosher food could be! All I ever really knew of it was Matzo balls and fish, but there is so so much more to it! The bread recipes in this book are absolutely to die for, along with hearty soups, and flavorful meat dishes! Not everything is traditionally Jewish either! There are recipes for Paella and things like Arroz con Polla and pasta as well! I was extremely excited to see some recipes for those famous Jewish deli sandwiches! The desserts are to die for and include things like Chocolate Hazelnut cookies, and Strawberry Trifle! I have many many cookbooks, and I have to say I haven't been this excited to cook my way through a book in ages! Normally I see a few recipes in a book that I would like to make, but this one is loaded with things that I cannot wait to try! Even if you know nothing about Jewish culture or Kosher cooking, I urge you to check out this book and prepare to be surprised and in awe! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review or influenced in terms of my review.

Purchased as a gift. The chef thought it was great.

This is wonderful - so much fun - great recipes and great stories - stimulate stories of my own for my kids

Takes me back to my mom's cooking! I'm trying to switch products that are with gluten. If you do not have restrictions in your diet, it's a wonderful cookbook

Not what i thought it would be. I expected a book with traditional eastern european dishes that i was never able to learn from my mom and although the book has some of those, it is mostly just another cook book

I first heard of Miri Rotkovitz’s “Bubbe And Me in the Kitchen” via Facebook, where I’m a member of several Jewish and kosher groups. I adore classic Jewish comfort food; although I didn’t grow up in a Jewish household, my Polish great-grandmother was a cook for wealthy Jewish families in Poland, and some staple dishes of my childhood were very similar (stuffed cabbage rolls, kasha with mushrooms, buckwheat knishes, poppyseed strudel). Some of my earliest memories in the kitchen are of baking with my Polish grandmother, so I was eager to see how Miri took classic dishes and added modern twists.

From the very first pages, “Bubbe and Me” is like a warm hug from grandma; I loved the author’s family photos and memories, along with “In the Kitchen With…” recollections and recipes by many famous Jewish cookbook authors such as Paula Shoyer (I reviewed her “Holiday Kosher Baker” for Mediterranean Living), Kim Kushner (see my review of "The New Kosher,") Ronnie Fein, and others.

Breakfast includes classic updates on lox and bagels (hot-smoked salmon bagels with herbed goat cheese and veggies), challah strata, and an amazing pareve apricot pistachio babka, while you’ll find a delicious spread of meze (muhammara and za’atar pita chips, smoky spice-roasted chickpeas, herbed feta), and an array of colorful and healthy salad ideas (I particularly loved the arugula, apple, and date salad with goat cheese and pecans and the purple cabbage slaw with toasted sesame ginger vinaigrette). You’ll find modern updates on matzoh balls (parlsey and nutmeg matzo balls, golden vegetable broth with dill matzo balls), schav (ruby chard and lemongrass schav), latkes, and kugel.

As a pescetarian, I was thrilled by the many simple and delicious fish preparations, including penne with tuna, artichoke and capers (a great recipe for using up odds and ends in your pantry), Moroccan-spiced cod with oranges and olives, and the showstopping salt-crusted branzino with herbs will be sure to delight your fellow dinner guests. The pistachio and mint-crusted wild salmon with tzatziki (sadly I can only get Chilean farmed salmon, so this is a very occasional indulgence) was an eye-opener; the combination of flavorful pistachios with crunchy panko was a truly delicious and foolproof way to prepare salmon. Although I haven’t eaten poultry in over ten years, the recipes for pomegranate-lacquered roast chicken, marmalade-roasted chicken with potatoes, citrus chicken with clementine salsa, and easy apricot chicken looks like surefire crowdpleasers for Shabbat or family dinners.

“Bubbe and Me in the Kitchen” is a tremendous blessing to my fellow vegetarians; the aforementioned salads, dips and vegetables are plentiful and largely vegetarian, from Romanesco with golden raisins and toasted almonds to healthy grain-based salads like basmati rice with sweet carrot and orange and forbidden rice salad with mango and ginger vinaigrette. There’s even an entire chapter of meatless mains, from kasha varnishkes with ratatouille and a roasted beet reuben to vegetarian paella, white bean cassoulet, matzoh spanakopita and cauliflower “couscous” with vegetable tagine. You’ll even find a vegan challah! All too often, vegetarian and vegan dishes are few in many mainstream kosher cookbooks, so I really appreciated this touch (for a completely vegan kosher take on Jewish foods, check out my friend Estee Rahiv’s new cookbook “Oy Vey Vegan."

Naturally, what Bubbe isn’t known for her baking and confections? I loved the dried plums and apricots with almond paste and almonds, Satva’s semi-famous Jewish apple cake, chocolate orange ricotta cheesecake, and poppyseed hamantaschen dough with fruit filling. There is a chapter included on holidays as well, with a handy table of Passover ingredient substitutions and index of Passover recipes and a selection of menus for Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, Passover, Lag B’Omer, Shavuot, Tu B’Av, and Shabbat.

Overall, “Bubbe and Me in the Kitchen” is a must-have addition to your cookbook library whether you keep kosher or are simply interested in Jewish comfort foods; out of the dozens of kosher cookbooks I own, I think this one will see weekly use as the recipes are delicious, approachable, and include many international influences (particularly Japanese / Asian). Thank you to Miri for preserving and updating these classic dishes for future generations, and most importantly, for remembering and recognizing the importance our bubbes played in our lives both in and out of the kitchen!

Gave out as a contest prize, and it was highly sought after! Winner was THRILLED!