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meatballs and matzahballs

at the intersection of Jewish and Italian food and life

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Nutella Mousse Cheesecake

Chocolate Lava Cakes

Avocado, Spinach, and Pickled Jalapeño Dip

Lemon Blueberry Cake

Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Rolls

Dates Stuffed with Roasted Pine Nut Butter

Crusty Tagliatelle with Meat and Sausage

Baby Chocolate Babkas

Mascarpone and Kosher Rye Whiskey Whipped Cream

Just Like Mom’s Stuffing

Applelinis

Mini Banana Ricotta Cheesecakes

Cheesy Mushroom Casserole

Mediterranean Zucchini, Dill, and Feta Pie

Chocolate-Pecan Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

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The Essential Jewish Cookbook

Features 100 straightforward recipes for classic Jewish dishes from across traditions, made simple and modern. From Challah French Toast to Classic Potato Latkes to Adafina and Doro Wot, these recipes highlight the delicious breadth and depth of global Jewish cuisine. Find tips and tricks for getting the most out of each recipe, from preparing certain steps in advance to swapping ingredients to make dishes kosher. From weeknight dinners to holiday feasts, create meals everyone will love.

    Now available on Amazon.com

From my Instagram feed

meatmatzahballs


One of this year’s Passover dinners starred this
One of this year’s Passover dinners starred this beauty. It’s my version of a mina, a Sephardic Passover pie reminiscent of lasagna but layered with matzah rather than pasta. I went big on the spinach along with feta in this vegetarian version simply surrounded by a top and bottom crust. Sometimes minas are topped with cheese or sauce, but that’s not needed here—a brushing of good-quality olive oil and sprinkling of sea salt creates a crisp, flavorful topping in this recipe from The Essential Jewish Cookbook. Until April 4, every #matzahchallenge post will be matched by an $18 donation from a generous donor to #ujafedny to address urgent needs brought on by the pandemic—there’s still time to show your stuff!
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#MatzahChallenge #Passover #HappyPassover #Jewishrecipes #Jewishholidaycooking #Jewishholiday #Jewishfood #Passoverrecipes #mina #Sephardicfood #Jewishcookbook

I thought I didn’t like macaroons…but once I m
I thought I didn’t like macaroons…but once I made them myself I discovered they are shockingly easy and shockingly irresistible—as in I-ate-the-whole-batch irresistible. It’s a pleasure to have shared my coconut macaroon recipe with @jewishfoodexp for a lovely article by @ehlime about my new book, The Essential Jewish Cookbook. Thank you, and loved talking with you, Emily! Find the article/recipe link in my bio. And while you're on the JFE site, if you have an Instant Pot, check out the great piece about the new book from @kosherbaker , The Instant Pot Kosher Cookbook!
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#Passover #HappyPassover #Jewishrecipes #Jewishholidaycooking #Jewishholiday #Jewishfood #Passoverrecipes #coconutmacaroons #glutenfree #jewishfood

Pappa al pomodoro, Tuscan tomato and bread soup, w
Pappa al pomodoro, Tuscan tomato and bread soup, was calling me after coming across a similar recipe by @bonniebenwick in @washingtonpost. It’s traditionally a rustic soup made with fresh tomatoes and lots of stale bread. I used good-quality San Marzano canned tomatoes and not quite so much bread, but a generous handful of basil and sprinkle of Parm. Perfectly hearty and sweet. And since Passover is coming, what to do but eat more bread!? On the side is a fresh hot @esprovisions soft pretzel, a delicious and awesome gift—thank you @dianeblag!
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#notPassoveryet #tomatosoup #Tuscantomatosoup #softpretzels

Chocolate Pecan Pie, a beloved recipe from Rabbi A
Chocolate Pecan Pie, a beloved recipe from Rabbi Avis Miller, plus a treasure trove of advice from Jewish food writers are all included in one of my favorite articles for @jewishfoodexp -- “Hack Your Way to a Perfect Passover” (article/recipe link in my bio). It's a couple years old but the tips for meeting Passover cooking challenges are as valuable as ever. I am grateful for all the helpful and inspiring insights shared with me from some of the most awesome people in Jewish food, including @susanbarocas @bbenwick @leah.koenig @shasarna and @jeffyosko !
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#Passover #HappyPassover #Jewishrecipes #Jewishholidaycooking #Jewishholiday #Jewishfood #Passoverrecipes

What a delightful little collection of Passover re
What a delightful little collection of Passover recipes from @koshereye —and I’m thrilled to have my recipe for Chocolate-Pecan Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches included! Please see the link in the bio of @koshereye to access fun recipes to mix up your Passover game, including Shepherd’s Pie, Apple Kugel, Baked Moroccan Salmon, and Coffee Crumb Cake!
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#Passover #HappyPassover #Jewishrecipes #Jewishholidaycooking #Jewishholidays #Jewishfood

I’ve always loved all the tips and recipes on Ma
I’ve always loved all the tips and recipes on MarthaStewart.com, so it’s an incredible thrill to be quoted in TWO articles about Passover on the site: “Four Ways to Personalize Your Seder” and “How to Choose the Right Wine for Your Passover Seder." (Find links to both in my bio.) As you can see, I had a lot to say, but one thing that didn’t make it in were some specific kosher for Passover wine suggestions from my favorite wine expert, @mrschristinez Christine Zubris, CSW and owner of Versi Vino Wine Bar and Restaurant in Maple Shade, NJ @versivino (if you are in that area, please check it out, it is awesome). So here they are—For a red wine, Christine recommended Galil Mountain Ela, a red blend that would go well with brisket and lamb entrees, and for a white wine, Yarden Gewurztraminer Galilee, which she described as “delicious, dry, and fruit forward.” Thank you so much, Christine!
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#Passover #Seder #PassoverWines #JewishHolidays #happypassover

How are you feeling about Passover cooking this ye
How are you feeling about Passover cooking this year? Going big or keeping it simple? While I'm leaning toward simple at the moment, it wouldn’t be Passover without homemade matzah ball soup. So this week I made that precious liquid gold, homemade chicken stock, to freeze until the holiday. Even the pup perks up at this comforting aroma (see the third slide).

Chicken soup is of course legendary as “Jewish penicillin,” gaining renown for its healing qualities centuries ago (thank you, Maimonides). I’ve included a great classic recipe for the broth and my favorite fluffy-but-still-with-some-bite matzah balls in The Essential Jewish Cookbook (see link in profile). But dont stop there--Jewish traditions actually embrace a wide variety of flavors in chicken soup, for example, turmeric in some Persian versions or the addition of garlic and chiles for spicy Yemenite versions. All worth exploring to your tastebuds’ content!
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#jewishcooking #jewishfood #jewfood #jewishcookbook #jewishfoodtraditions #cookbooks #kosherfood #jewishrecipes #chickensoup

Not only did I get the pleasure of seeing someone
Not only did I get the pleasure of seeing someone else make my falafel recipe from The Essential Jewish Cookbook, I got to taste test the results, too—and they were spot-on delicious. Thank you @victoriarapoport! In discussing the recipe, we agreed that dried beans are best for texture and flavor (and were used for the falafel above), but falafel made from canned beans still get eaten, every last one. In this pic, notice the slightly flattened disk shape, a tweak Victoria tried per the advice of her friend and chef @baxterdd2, who suggests the inside will stay moister and more flavorful this way. Love the tip, and can say that I’ll take falafel either way, round or disked. These protein-rich fritters make a great vegetarian main dish, and are out-of-the-park good with the book’s recipe for homemade pita. If you still need a copy of The Essential Jewish Cookbook or would be kindly willing to leave an honest review, please see the link to the Amazon page in my bio.
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#jewishcooking #jewishfood #jewfood #jewishcookbook #jewishfoodtraditions #cookbooks #kosherfood #jewishrecipes #falafel #vegetarian

Just got these wine glasses—aren’t they fun? O
Just got these wine glasses—aren’t they fun? Our sweet pet sitter and friend Crystal Berry @aroundmidnightpet just opened her Midnight’s Treasures Store filled with items like these glasses that she’s designed and curated. The products reflect her wit, joy, optimism, and unending well of love for all things furry-friended. Do check out her store and have fun shopping and supporting a woman-owned small business! https://aroundmidnight.net/store/
#aroundmidnightpet #petsittersofinstagram

Sometimes you just need the straightforward and cl
Sometimes you just need the straightforward and classic version of a holiday favorite—and in the hamantashen realm, that’s a tender blond dough filled with jams like raspberry, apricot, or prune, or with poppyseed filling. No matter what fancy hamantashen I whip up, we feel like we haven’t truly had hamantashen until we’ve had our traditional favorite with raspberry preserves, and you can find the recipe in The Essential Jewish Cookbook (see the link to the Amazon page in my bio). If you want to give your pastries some flair, drizzling them with or dipping a corner in melted white or dark chocolate does the trick nicely. Bonus if you want add some sprinkles. But truth be told, most of the time we eat them before I can do any of that. 🙂

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#purim #happypurim #hamantashen #hamantaschen #Jewishbaking #Jewishholidays #Jewishholidaybaking #jewfood
#jewishcookbook

Although nothing beats the nostalgia of the tradit
Although nothing beats the nostalgia of the traditional flavors for Purim, it wouldn’t be hamantashen season without all sorts of knock-your-socks-off flavor combinations— and this Salted Caramel Bourbon Hamantashen might be my favorite non-traditional creation. Not only is it decadently delicious, it celebrates the Jewish connection to the Kentucky Bourbon industry (yes, you read that right). Recipe link in profile!

#purim #hamantashen #Jewishbaking #Jewishholidays #Jewishholidaybaking #jewishfood #heavenhilldistillery #bourbon

Wow! The Essential Jewish Cookbook already has 25
Wow! The Essential Jewish Cookbook already has 25 reviews and a 5-star rating (including this one) on Amazon! Thank you SO much to all who have already posted their honest feedback—it’s just amazing to see. Many of you have asked how you can support me beyond buying your own copy of the book, which I’m very grateful for. One way to really make an impact is to write an honest review. Customer reviews lend credibility to products online. They also help people who are on the fence decide whether this book is right for them. By taking a few minutes to leave a review on the book’s Amazon page (link in my bio), you’re helping the book reach people who would enjoy it. Again, many thanks!
#jewishcooking #jewishfood #jewfood #jewishcookbook #jewishfoodtraditions #cookbooks #kosherfood #jewishrecipes

UPDATE: COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED, thanks so much
UPDATE: COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED, thanks so much for participating! I loved hearing from everyone! I held a random drawing from all the entries and we have a lucky winner. 

It’s GIVEAWAY time! To celebrate the launch of my new book, The Essential Jewish Cookbook, I’m thrilled to be giving away a free copy! (This is so fun!)
 
To enter for your chance to win:
• Make sure you’re following @meatmatzahballs
And
• Comment below with your favorite “essential” Jewish food
• For a bonus entry, tag one or more friends who would like this book
 
This Giveaway ends at 5pm EST on Monday, February 15, 2021 and the winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. No purchase necessary. Est. retail value: $17.99. Open to US residents only.  This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram. 

For more about the book (and to order a copy), see the link in my bio.
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#cookbookgiveaway #cookbooksofinstagram #jewishcooking #jewishfood #jewfood #jewishcookbook #jewishfoodtraditions #cookbooks #kosherfood #jewishrecipes

Joining in the Valentine’s week chocolate fervor
Joining in the Valentine’s week chocolate fervor, I have to go with chocolate cake. And the chocolaty-ist cake I know is this flourless chocolate cake, a GF recipe in The Essential Jewish Cookbook (avail on Amazon now—yay!). Flourless chocolate cakes have taken a much-beloved place in the Passover recipe repertoire, but there’s almost no day of the year that wouldn’t be better with a slice of this.
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#chocolatecake #glutenfree #flourlesschocolatecake #jewishcooking #jewishfood  #jewfood #jewishcookbook #jewishfoodtraditions #cookbooks #kosherfood #jewishrecipes #valentinesdaydessert

The Essential Jewish Cookbook is officially releas
The Essential Jewish Cookbook is officially released! Yay! I hope you enjoy reading and cooking from the book as much as I enjoyed writing the history and creating the 100 (classic + diverse + easy + modern) Jewish recipes. Please do let me know. And thanks to everyone for all the support and enthusiasm!
Need a copy? Order through the link in my bio.
 
#jewishcooking  #Jewishfood  #jewfood #jewishcookbook  #jewishfoodtraditions  #cookbooks  #newcookbook  #kosherfood  #jewishrecipes

I can't believe it—The Essential Jewish Cookbook
I can't believe it—The Essential Jewish Cookbook launches TOMORROW! To celebrate, I wanted to share a sneak peek at another recipe from the book that’s perfect for these cold winter nights--Hungarian Paprika Beef Stew or Goulash (see link in my bio for more details & recipe).
🥄🥄🥄
I'm beyond excited to be in the home stretch, and I can't thank you enough for all your support. I love knowing that you all will have printed books in your hands soon. Still need to get your copy? Please pre-order it through the link in my bio—every order boosts the book’s launch.
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#jewishcooking #jewishfood #jewfood #jewishcookbook #jewishfoodtraditions #cookbooks #kosherfood #jewishrecipes #goulash #beefstew #newcookbook

I’ll take these over chicken wings today--or any
I’ll take these over chicken wings today--or any day. Some keys to irresistible chocolate chip cookies: (1) good-quality butter, chocolate, and vanilla (2) a light shower of coarse salt before baking (3) baking until just set but not fully browned. Most heavenly eaten warm. #chocolatechipcookies #cookiebaking #sweettreat

Roasted chickpeas! Not because they are a nutritio
Roasted chickpeas! Not because they are a nutritious snack (though that’s a plus, of course) but because they taste a little like bacon.
#roastedchickpeas #tasteslikebacon #vegan

It’s a little scary for me to reveal The Essenti
It’s a little scary for me to reveal The Essential Jewish Cookbook and have people see it for the first time. So when the book resonates with readers, it’s gratifying and a huge relief. That’s where this pita bread comes in. Writing of my pita recipe, one of the book’s Amazon reviewers says, “I am happy to report that Marcia’s recipe was not only easy but also a success!” 😊

With the ebook now available, people can leave reviews—here’s a sampling of other comments that made my day:

* "This cookbook is really essential, especially for families like mine whose mother and grandmothers rarely if ever wrote down family recipes or used a recipe."
* "This is my kind of cookbook! Not only are these recipes easy to follow (with great, thoughtful instruction), the ingredient list is short and includes pantry staples.” 
* "This book brings together the food traditions of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi Jews, resulting in a broader spectrum of dishes and plentiful healthy options."
* "Marcia Friedman has gathered together enough history and great recipes to hold the reader's interest for days." 

I truly hope the book’s approach and recipes resonate with you, too. Please pre-order a print copy today (link in profile) and make a big difference by showing support of the book before it launches next Tuesday(!). And please consider adding your own Amazon review!
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 #jewishcooking #jewishfood #jewfood #jewishcookbook #jewishfoodtraditions #cookbooks #kosherfood #jewishrecipes

Making ahead=much happier cook in my book. That’
Making ahead=much happier cook in my book. That’s why in my latest, The Essential Jewish Cookbook, I was delighted to include tips like this one for making the absolutely amazing Yemenite flaky flatbread Malawach. From your freezer, it takes a mere 3-4 minutes to have these hot pastry-like breads on your plate. (Other book recipes that can be made ahead and frozen include latkes, potato and caramelized onion knishes, turkey stuffed cabbage, zucchini and potato fritada, classic chicken soup, and meat or cheese-stuffed kreplach.) Other tips in the book give you hints for shortcuts, substitutions, gussying up garnishes, and swapping ingredients—all, I hope, tools to help you make the recipes make you a happier cook. The official book release is 2/9, but pre-ordering is available plus you can access the ebook now (see the link in the profile). 
BTW, did you know that pre-orders contribute greatly to the success of a book? They make a huge difference and signal to retailers that the book is in high demand. If you are planning on ordering, please consider placing a pre-order now (bonus: the book will be shipped to you as soon as it officially goes on sale).
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#jewishcooking #jewishfood #jewfood #jewishcookbook #jewishfoodtraditions #cookbooks


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Meatballs and Matzah Balls

No matter where your cultural journey has taken you, the kitchen is always your best way home.

  • more than 100 recipes
  • more than 60 full-color photos
  • nine essays exploring intersections of Jewish and Italian life
  • classic and new recipes for soups, stews, breads, appetizers, pastas, grains, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, Passover, and, of course, desserts!
  • recipes cover classics from both cuisines as well as recipes that bridge the two in origin, ingredients, or spirit
  • all recipes can be made kosher

“Italian by birth and Jewish by choice, Marcia has amassed a delectable feast filled with nostalgic reflections from both traditions.”—Judy Bart Kancigor, author of Cooking Jewish.

    Finalist—2014 Indie Book Awards

      Buy print and ebook versions now on Amazon.com

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