As you all know, I love cookbooks. Basically all cookbooks. But it's not every day that my good friends and colleagues publish a book, so this one has me extra excited! The dynamic author-duo of Leah Schapira and Victoria Dwek have done it again. You may remember my review of their last joint effort, Passover Made Easy, and how much I loved it. Well, they have absolutely outdone themselves in their latest effort, Starters & Sides Made Easy. Ready to read what I thought? (Scroll down past my review for your chance to win your own copy!) At first glance: As with their previous book, Starters & Sides Made Easy is chock full of creative and inventive ideas, beautifully photographed … [Read more...]
Chocolate Sugar Cookies and a Second Blogiversary! {Giveaway!}
Honestly, I never thought today would come. Not the date, that's a given. Not Wednesday, that's just...Monday III. No, when I say that I never expected today to come, I mean this post. Right now. Right here. Me, celebrating the second anniversary of the date that I pressed "publish" on my first ever post. Last year, on my first blogiversary, I talked about how much I deliberated before I started my blog. And I discussed how utterly amazed I was when people started to come, to read, and to cook. And over the last 12 months, my amazement has grown, just like the blog. It's amazing how many of you come visit my tiny little corner of the internet. I'm awed and flattered to be a part of so … [Read more...]
Garlic Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes and Basil and a Review and Giveaway of The No Potato Passover
With Passover coming, everyone I know is scrambling for recipes and ideas. I don't know about you, but when I think Passover, I think potatoes. And when I think of the day after Passover, I think about being intensely sick and tired of potatoes. And that's why I think everyone celebrating passover can appreciate The No Potato Passover by Aviva Kanoff. Read what I thought of it, then enter below for one of two chances to win a copy! At a First Glance: First I was all, "no way I want to go through an entire Passover without a potato." But as I read through the cookbook, I was impressed with the idea. Sure I'm going to eat potatoes. But this book has some refreshing ideas of recipes that … [Read more...]
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad and a Review and Giveaway of Passover Made Easy
I know that nobody really wants to think about the imminent arrival of the Passover holiday, but face it, friends. Passover is coming. The good news is that today I am reviewing a cookbook that aims to make Passover cooking easy. I know, it sounds too good to be true. But this book proves that it can be done! Passover Made Easy is a brand new book, written by the fabulous duo of Leah Schapira (or Fresh & Easy fame) and Victoria Dweck, food editor of a number of top kosher magazines, including the one I write for. The book is a project of CookKosher.Com, and actually features about a third of the recipes by a number of the members, myself included! Leah and Victoria took the recipes, … [Read more...]
Soft Frosted Vanilla Sugar Cookies and a Review and Giveaway of Pure Vanilla
I know it's been a while since I did a book review, but this one is super fun, and I love this recipe for Purim (or pretty much any time. Ever.) The frosting is vanilla flavored, but add in some food coloring to match your color scheme and you're all set. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for a giveaway of this book! Pure Vanilla by Shauna Sever is a super fun and creative book that aims to change your impression of vanilla from a minor side ingredient to a star of the show. Here's what I thought of it. At a First Glance: I never thought of vanilla as such a starring ingredient before. To me, vanilla means no other flavor. But this book spotlights it in the most amazing ways! There's … [Read more...]
Top Posts of 2012 and a Giveaway!
Giveaway Closed! It's been a fabulous year here at Overtime Cook. There have been loads of highlights...too many to list. But I am going to be a total cliche and list some of my most popular posts. First, starting with plain stats- here goes: Scroll all the way to the bottom for the giveaway! Healthy Oatmeal Pumpkin Pancakes: It's funny how things work out sometimes. I made these on a whim, and happened to take a nice picture of them. Months later and it's still usually the most popular post every day. Also, it's totally my favorite breakfast! And my blog's most popular post! Spicy Baked Zucchini Sticks: These are among my favorite real-life recipes, but they are also the first ever … [Read more...]
Personalized Letter Cookies and a Review and Giveaway of Decorating Cookies
Giveaway Closed! I am totally excited about the book I am reviewing (and giving away!) today! I usually review ordinary cookbooks, but today I am reviewing something kind of different. Because of that, I am not going to do my regular set of cookbook review questions, but let me tell you about this fabulous book. I still remember the first time I discovered Bridget Edward's blog. My jaw dropped open further and further as I clicked for another page, and another. The woman is insanely talented, and has the most fabulous cookie decorating ideas! When I heard she was coming out with a book, I knew I had to get my hands on it. And this book didn't disappoint. Decorating Cookies starts out with … [Read more...]
Shortcut Cannoli with Chocolate Mousse Filling and a Hanukkah Blog Party!
Giveaway Closed! Remember how I co-hosted a Rosh Hashanah blog party a couple of months ago with my friend Jessie? Well today I bring you another fabulous holiday blog party. This one is co-hosted by the one and only me and my friend Leah from Cook Kosher. I present: A Hanukkah Blog Party! Scroll down past the party info for the most delicious dessert recipe you've ever tasted. No jokes. PS: in honor of Chanukah, I totally deep fried it! Let's get some details, shall we? Welcome to our first ever Hanukkah Blog Party, hosted by Leah of Cook Kosher and Miriam of Overtime Cook. It's traditional on Hanukkah to eat fried treats, most notably donuts and latkes, and we've got a fabulous array … [Read more...]
Mushroom Beef Sliders and a Review and Giveaway of CHIC Made Simple
Giveaway Closed! I'm super excited to be reviewing another fabulous and hot new kosher cookbook, CHIC Made Simple. The author, Esther Deutch, actually writes for the same magazine as me, Ami Living's Whisk magazine. Oddly enough, I didn't meet her until Kosher Fest, when we practically bumped into each-other. "You're Overtime Cook?!" She exclaimed. "I am such a fan." Well. After an introduction like that, I couldn't wait to see her beautiful cookbook and try some of the recipes. At a First Glance: CHIC Made Simple is beautiful. And I am not talking simply about the pictures (which are really nice!). This book is big, hard covered, and really nice all around. Every page has a … [Read more...]
Cinnamon Sugar Scones and a review and giveaway of Mini Treats and Handheld Sweets
Giveaway Closed! I'm so excited to be reviewing a new cookbook today. Not just any book, but one that I'm totally nuts over. No jokes. I think the author, Abigail Dodge is my soul sister, because how perfectly me is a cookbook called "Mini Treats and Handheld Sweets?" Not only it it a cookbook full of glorious desserts, but they're mini, and pretty much every recipe in this book is right up my alley. Lets discuss this, shall we? At a First Glance: My first reaction when flipping through this book was "ohmygosh I want to make everything." The book is a treasure trove of delicious recipes that are either totally out of the box, or a brand new twist on an old favorite. (Why make carrot … [Read more...]