East Windsor Hadassah releases cookbook

The East Windsor Hadassah has produced a cookbook called "Culinary Capers," featuring a variety of recipes from Hadassah members and their neighbors and friends.

By: Marisa Maldonado
   EAST WINDSOR — Joan Freeman used to make a cake without flour for her father, who had celiac disease, a condition in which the body cannot process gluten, contained in wheat, rye and barley products.
   "It’s tasty," said Ms. Freeman, a resident of Cranbury. "I make it just for regular people," she added, saying that even people without celiac disease enjoy it.
   Now the community can enjoy a modified recipe for 8888 Nut Cake — a version with 8 heaping tablespoons of flour — along with 284 others. The East Windsor Hadassah has produced a cookbook called "Culinary Capers," featuring a variety of recipes from Hadassah members and their neighbors and friends.
   "Many of the recipes are heirloom recipes, meaning they go back generations," said Sylvia Weiss, a member of Hadassah. Ms. Weiss contributed a recipe of her mother’s, Grandma Lily’s Great Passover Cake.
   The cookbook, which costs $12, contains recipes from a variety of countries, including Ireland, India and Israel.
   Ms. Weiss said the Hadassah wanted a diverse cookbook "because we have friends and acquaintances with many different backgrounds."
   Even though many women say they don’t cook anymore, Ms. Freeman said a cookbook is still a good gift because unlike flowers or wine, it lasts a long time.
   "Even if they just like one or two recipes, they’ll enjoy it," Ms. Freeman said.
   Hadassah sold a cookbook 10 years ago that only included recipes with carrots. That book sold 500 copies in three months, and Ms. Weiss said she expects this book to go even faster because of the amount of people (approximately 75) who contributed to the book.
   "If they had a recipe, they have to buy a book to show their families," Ms. Freeman said.
   Hadassah hopes to distribute the cookbook at the Shop-Rite in East Windsor sometime this spring. The organization has ordered 500 copies.
   Many of the proceeds from the book will go to the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, which is supported by the national Hadassah organization. The organization was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year for its role in promoting peace between Jews and Palestinians.
   The hospital also contributes to other international causes, Ms. Freeman said.
   "The doctors who work there are very giving of their expertise," Ms. Freeman said. "When the tsunami hit, they were right there giving aid."
   To order the cookbook, call Susan Schatz at (609) 448-5544 or Marge Rosen at (609) 443-1013.