Jewish Slow Cooker
Chef Laura Frankel has elevated slow cooker cooking to a new level with her cookbook, Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes, and now this popular cookbook is available in paperback. The idea for writing a cookbook, featuring recipes prepared in a slow cooker, was conceived after a conversation with her literary agent. Her agent had a crockpot and asked Laura for several good, slow cooker recipes. The end result of that conversation was a cookbook that features 120 enticing, kosher, gourmet recipes for everyday and holiday meals.
In Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes, Laura pairs her passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients with her culinary imagination and has created a tantalizing collection of recipes—from appetizers and soups to main dishes, sides, and even desserts and breakfasts.
Chef Laura does not believe in using "faux" products in a recipe—that includes butter substitutions. "When making parve baked goods, such as fruit cobbler or crumble, I will use toasted nuts as a topping. I also use coconut oil; it is natural, healthy, and has no trans-fats". She believes in using products that are in season and supports local growers.
There are many wonderful recipes in the cookbook. Some do require extra prep time, but the inventive cook can dice and chop the vegetables in advance, and store them in the refrigerator until needed. We were especially intrigued with several of the Moroccan recipes; Moroccan Chicken with Cracked Green Olives and Preserved Lemons and Dafina, the Moroccan equivalent of Cholent.
We decided to make the recipe for Falling-Off-The-Bone Short Ribs, and the White Bean Ragu. These were scrumptious.
"With the slow cooker, just do the prep, push the button and go about your business", said Laura. "It is about healthy home cooking, back to basics, and no hidden ingredients." She calls the slow cooker her “Shabbat miracle machine”— and 2nd pair of hands. We agree. The slow cooker is a wonderful, time-saving appliance, and the cookbook Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes is the perfect guidebook to utilize it fully.
Laura Frankel has quite a resume including executive chef of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant and catering in the (Jewish) Spertus Museum in Chicago. She was the founder and co-owner of Shallots, which was recognized as one of the top kosher restaurants in the U.S., with locations in both Chicago and NY. She has appeared on numerous TV shows, and in print, and is a popular cooking instructor. Laura is currently working on several exciting projects, along with a new cookbook. Her website is cheflauraskosher.com. Find Chef Laura on Facebook,and on Twitter @pickledtongue.
Enjoy this Chicago Tonight interview with Chev Laura!.
Cookbook Giveaway - Two readers will be randomly chosen to win
the Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes
Giveaway limited to continental U.S. only. If not living in continental U.S, you can still enter and, if selected, "gift" your prize to a continental U.S. friend or relative. The winner will be notified by email. Once notified, the winner must respond within 48 hours or the prize will be awarded to the runner-up.
This giveaway ended at 11:59PM, Septermber 6, 2015. The lucky winners are Amanda Hersch, Cedarhurst, NY and Marnie Schwartz, Santa Rosa, CA.
If you just can't wait to see if you are the winner, you can order online here: Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes: 120 Holiday and Everyday Dishes Made Easy
