Reviews for Get Cooking! A Jewish American Family Cookbook

About Our Children - Review of Get Cooking

"What do you get when you mix a hip Jewish mom of three who, when not supervising homework, doing carpool and arranging play dates, is pleasing the palates of the masses, with a hip Jewish mama of two, who, when not supervising homework, doing carpool and arranging play dates, is pleasing the ears of the masses?

You get a rocking and rolling musical cookbook that marries the talents and sensibilities of About Our Children food writer Rachel Harkham and music sensation Mama Doni (Doni Zasloff Thomas), who in their first collaborative book, “Get Cooking! A Jewish American Family Cookbook” (Behrman House), have created a veritable cholent that mixes their love of food, music, Yiddishkeit, Americana, Jewish holidays, and family fun.”

—"Hip Jewish Mamas Making Food and Music Magic" - October 2012 issue of About Our Children, a publication of The Jewish Standard

"For an observant family, both secular holiday's like Thanksgiving and religious holidays like Roash Hashanah require a kosher cuisine. That's why "Get Cooking: A Jewish American Family Cookbook" compiled by Rachel Harkham and Doni Zasloff Thomas will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to family cookbook bollections. A coil-bound, hard-cover, 128 page, profusely illustrated collection of more than 8-wonderfully 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, the dishes comprising "Get Cooking: A Jewish American Family Cookbook" range from Shabbat Winter Stew; Pomegranate Barbecue Chicken; Pizza Fondue; and Lamb Kufte Kebabs; to Garlic-Chive Matzah Balls; Southwestern Pulled Brisket Sukko-Tocos; Mini Sweet Potato Knishes; and Super 3-Bean Chili Bowl. Of special note is the provision of 'Mitzvah menues'. Simply stated, "Get Cooking: A Jewish American Family Cookbook" is a highly recommended collection of fun, easy, nutritious and delicious dishes for Judaic high holy days, American holidays, and family everyday dining alike!"

—The Midwest Book Review

"If you don't know your latkes from your challah, it's time to dive in to Mama Doni's first cookbook, Get Cooking: A Jewish American Family Cookbook. The Jewish-American musical maven (along with Rachel Harkham) has created a culinary masterpiece with recipes that focus on fun and flavor! From Rosh Hashanah to Purim, Tu BiShevat (aka The Jewish Earth Day) to Chanukah, there are recipes for every holiday, and for busy moms, they're super easy to make!"

—Celebrity Parents Magazine

"Get Cooking! takes readers through a year of holidays with fun, “menschy” activities for every season and recipes that give American cuisine a Jewish twist, such as “Sweet Potato Knish” for Thanksgiving and “Judah Mac ‘n Cheese Squares,” “Fill-in-the-Blank Latkes,” and “KFC: Kosher Fried Chicken” for Hanukka."

—New Jersey Jewish News

"My daughter and I had a great time working in the kitchen side by side and recreating some of the recipes by Mama Doni and her chef friend Rachel Harkham. We have discovered that cooking together is a lot of fun and a great time to bond and learn these recipes together."

—My Springfield Mommy

"I cannot wait to get my hands on this cookbook so that I can try the other recipes in the book and hope they are just as easy to transform to gluten free."

—Recipe Review by Heather Lutz-Silver

"I could not stop planning possibilities to make, bake, and share with the kids."

—The Angel Forever's weekly "Tuesday Tales" book review

"Get Cooking! A Jewish American Family Cookbook is fun to read, and filled with Mama Doni’s upbeat outlook on life. After finishing the book, I honestly wanted to try everything she suggests with my family - crafts, cooking, holiday activities, you name it – she makes it all sounds so exciting!"

—BaristaKids

"The one thing that impressed me most, this cookbook isn’t like an ordinary cookbook. It isn’t just recipes and pretty pictures. There are jokes, holiday activities and cultural lessons."

—Lori Pace, A Day in Motherhood

"You have to see this book to truly enjoy it. The illustrations are phenomenal, the pictures are fantastic, and you are invited in to be a guest in the warmth of cooking traditional Jewish meals while listening to Rockin’ Mama Doni’s songs of fun and celebration."

—The Review Broads, one of Cision's Top 50 Product Review Blogs

"Get Cooking! A Jewish American Family Cookbook is proof that you don’t have to be Jewish to eat like one."

—Alan Caruba, Bookviews - November 2012

"This Jewish American Family Cookbook has a little something for everyone, including a CD of Jewish songs from Mama Doni. The book takes you through the whole year of holidays with recipes and songs to keep you dancing in the kitchen with your kids. They share jokes and games to play to get your kids more involved in cooking, singing and the Jewish holidays."

—Joy of Kosher

"Instructions are clear and step by step, and special ingredients have extra hints about sources and uses. "Get Cooking!" is chock full of color photos of teenagers, riddles and jokes, party suggestions, and game and songfest ideas. "Get Cooking!" is a great resource for Jewish American families with kids who want to cook."

—Children's Bookwatch: November 2012 from The Midwest Book Review

"As I listened to the accompanying CD in the car, as I perused the recipes, as I made my very first challah, my favourite phrase rang clear in my mind: it's special because you make it special. I've tried to make that my motto this year and this book and CD really celebrates that idea. Here you will find recipes and songs and inspiration for a weekly meal for an annual celebration. As it is a family cookbook children are encouraged to help out! Family time is more than just the feast, but the preparation as well."

—Cherry Blossoms blog

"No other cookbook has impressed me as much as Get Cooking! A Jewish American Family Cookbook. I may not be Jewish American, but I know a fantastic cookbook when I find one."

—Amanda Tippit, Outnumbered 3 to 1

"The book is colorful and inviting for children and adults and this has become my go-to cookbook lately!"

—Nicole's Nickels

"It has really been a lot of fun trying new recipes and learning more about the Jewish/American culture. Each section, and many of the recipes, have family and cultural stories attached to them making it a book that you actually want to sit down and read through and not just cook from."

—Jessie Marr, MomVantage

"The energy of the clever lyrics and music of Mama Doni, paired with the family appeal of the recipes, make this book just plain fun! Time to cook, sing and dance in the kitchen!"

—KosherEye (Cookbook of the Week - Jan. 15, 2013)

"The new book brought back memories of my childhood traditions and made me long for the delicious foods of years past (I swear I heard my bubbie, a.k.a great-grandmother, saying “mamma-la, come eat!”). It can be a great resource for families looking to explore Jewish culture and for those of us wishing to expand and remember our own."

—Kim Como, Bicultural Mama

"Mama Doni is a fresh example of what the joy of life looks life. Coupled with songs that lend to appreciating one’s heritage, the audience comes away refreshed, exhilarated, and definitely “shvitzing.”

—Mary Cantell, Montgomery News

"This is a really cool cookbook, whether you are Jewish or not, just for the fact that all of the recipes look scrumptious, but also because it is a learning tool. I personally think it’s really important for people to have a basic understanding of many religions, and this cookbook provides a basic, yet thorough, overview of the Jewish culture. I dig that!"

—The Simple Moms

"I love how kid friendly this book reads."

—Lisa, As They Grow Up

Also featured in:

Jewish Book Council Reviews

American Jewish World

DownBeat Magazine's Holiday Gift Guide 2012

Macaroni Kid EATS!

Educational Gift Guide for Kids from Imagination Soup

Holiday Gift Guide 2012 from Around My Family Table

2012 Jewish Book Month List for Children and Teens

Barista Kids Hanukkah Guide