Zabar's Blog

Recipe for Poule au Pot from The Chicken Soup Manifesto by Jenn Louis

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

This cookbook features an amazing assortment of chicken soups from around the world—Tom Kha Gai, a gingery Thai noodle soup; Chicken Mafé, a West African peanut-flavored, spicy soup with eggplant and sweet potato; Cuban Ajiaco, a stew of chicken and beef; and a perfumed stew from Peru. Try Egyptian Kubbeh Hamusta; and dumplings from Germany. This French chicken in a pot is close to the classic Jewish penicillin. Spice it up or down, but try it, and also try Skink, a creamy Irish concoction with leeks and carrots; and Pennsylvania Dutch Rival, a chicken-filled corn chowder.

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Recipe excerpted with permission The Chicken Soup Manifesto by Jenn Louis, published by Hardie Grant Books

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Recipe for Cream of Corn Soup from Soupology by Drew Smith

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

This beautiful cookbook bases the recipes on six basic broths and goes on from there. Then you add veggies, spices, and all sorts of ingredients. Try the carrot, rice and potato soup, chicken tom yum, beef, shrimp or miso broth, minestrone, and onion soup. Here’s a lovely recipe using the last of this season’s corn from your farmers’ market. It's lovely and delicious.

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Recipe excerpted with permission from Soupology by Drew Smith, photographs by Tom Register (Rizzoli).

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Recipe for 24-Karat Cookies from Cookies are Magic by Maida Heatter

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

Here are some yummy cookies, filled with honey, to start your sweet new year. The rest of the book will keep you baking all fall. Fill your cookie jar with Pecan Butter Pillows, Maida’s Mother’s Gingersnaps, and Cookie Kisses.

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Recipe excerpted with permission from Cookies are Magic by Maida Heatter (Little Brown and Company).

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Recipe for Mozzarella with Celery, Olives and Pine Nuts from A Table for Friends by Skye McAlpine

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

This lovely and inspiring book had me experimenting with salads all week. My favorite, so far: one with tuna and fennel. A few interesting chicken recipes, one for pot roast,and another for chocolate chestnut meringue pie are next on my list.

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Reprinted from A Table for Friends by arrangement with Bloomsbury Publishing. Copyright © 2020, Skye McAlpine.

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Recipe for Smoked Whitefish Toast with Radish Butter

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

Today’s recipe is for a clever way to serve Zabar’s favorite whitefish. I am planning to have fun cooking with this lovely book. Next up: Moroccan challah, stuffed with tuna, and an Israeli baked falafel that might inspire me to go into the kitchen on this hot, hot day. And maybe homemade fish sticks and some apple blueberry turnovers for the little one.

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Excerpted from Peas Love and Carrots by Danielle Renov. Copyright 2020 by ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, photos by Moshe Wulliger. Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.

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Recipe for Filled Mini Yorkshire Puddings

from Afternoon Tea at the Cutter & Squidge Bakery by Annabel Lui & Emily Lui, photographs by Clare Winfield

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

This book has many lovely tea recipes: lots of fancy cakes, biskies (aka cookies), and some savory treats, including some mini sweetcorn pancakes with tomato and avocado and an enticing raspberry, lemon & mint iced tea for the dog days of summer. This week, try making the little Yorkshire puds for tea or an appetizer.

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Recipe for Chewy Almond Cookies

from Perfectly Golden by Angela Garbacz, owner of Goldenrod Pastries

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

All sorts of baked sweets are in this book, with lots of tips to tweak each recipe to make the goodies gluten-free, without dairy, or vegan. Drag out the waffle iron and make turtle cookies with peanut butter frosting. Or add the perfect chocolate torte, with strawberries and coconut whipped cream, and a wonderful pretzel pie, to your repertoire. These almond cookies were easy to make and magically disappeared from my cookies jar!

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Recipe for Grilled Beef Kebabs

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

This book has twenty summers’ worth of recipes for salads, grills, picnics, and cool desserts. Start with green tomato chutney, dilly beans, and a smoked salmon Niçoise salad. Throw some meat and veggies on the grill, drink some sweet iced tea and finish with an ice-cream sundae. The perfect beach day menu.

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Recipe for A Really Buttery Croque Monsieur

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

​I got lost in the stories in this book, filled with the authors' joy of tasting new things. Do a little armchair traveling: wander around Paris and cook along with the owners of this wine store that serves nibbles. Elevate your grilled cheese making skills with the recipe for this simple, yummy sandwich. There is also a wonderful recipe in the book for a mustard vinaigrette to dress any salad. Très délicieux!

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Recipe for Grilled Baby Gem Lettuce in Orange Sauce from Plants Only Kitchen by Gaz Oakley

Cookbook review by Tracey Zabar

Fire up the grill and make everyone individual salads. Then start cooking your way through this delightful book. I am working on the grain and chili recipes this week. Sun-dried tomato and broccoli pasta, anyone?

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