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    Home » Candy & Sweets

    Yulia's Seed Sweets + A Cookbook Giveaway

    Published: Jun 27, 2014 · Modified: Apr 21, 2022 by thekitchenprep · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    I love cooking for so many reasons. Among them is the fact that so many dishes are steeped in tradition. Recipes often come with a story... a history. A past.

    There are recipes I treasure that have been passed down from my Abuela that I will continue to make the way she did for years to come. In our family, this is especially important because a lot of our heirlooms and traditions were left behind in Cuba when my parents fled to this country many years ago. They may not have been able to take their fine China or jewelry to pass down to future generations -- but no one could make them leave behind the recipes that will forever remind them of special times with family and friends, breaking bread over laughter and joyful times.

    I was recently contacted about a new cookbook that was written by a local called Cooking Up a Story: Empowering Women Through Cooking. In it, author Susan Shulman Pertnoy shares recipes from women of all different backgrounds who immigrated to Israel. Though their journeys all differed and their paths were unique, each of the women shared a common link in their stories: food.

    Many of the women whose recipes are featured in this cookbook underwent difficult times in their lives -- family tragedies, famine, poverty, ailments and, of course, the difficult task of assimilating into a new and unknown culture. With the help of a program called the Cook and Host Group, these women were able to come together and find a group with whom they could connect, cook and ultimately heal.

    Part of the Cook and Host Group's mission is to show individuals how to create healthier versions of traditional foods all while keeping costs low in order to be able to feed a family. Though the recipes in the book stem from age-old favorites passed down through these families, they have all been slightly adapted to be more healthful and nutritious. But their goals go beyond just nourishing the body; the practice of bringing these women together has also provided emotional support and bridged cultural gaps.

    In one of the stories shared by Chani, a Georgian woman who moved to Nazareth Illit at the tender age of 6, she remembers a time when the children of exiled families from many nationalities would gather in the courtyard of her neighborhood while their families prepared dinner. Though the children didn't speak the same language, they began to learn about one another through the foods they brought out to share each evening.  "Food was our first language. It helped us form connections and make friends", she explains.

    Among the recipes shared in this book are classics like Dorit's Latkes and Hannah's Borscht to recipes infused with the flavors of a specific region such as Shula's Ethopian Chicken Stew and Chana's Harira. The recipes are organized into four thematic sections like "Cooking Through Lack and Hardship" and "Finding My Place", and each recipe tells the story of its origin.

    One hundred percent of the proceeds from Cooking Up a Story go to the S & P Foundation, which funds the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee's {JDC} Nutrition Enrichment and Healthy Living Program. It is available for purchase {$36} through the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.

    Today, I'm giving away a copy to one reader! Simply leave a comment below telling me: What is your favorite traditional family recipe, and what is its origin? {Who knows, I may even get a few new ideas and have to ask for details!} I'll be choosing a winner on Tuesday, July 1, so make sure to enter before then!

    Reading this cookbook was a good reminder of the power of something as simple as a shared meal and of the emotional component of food in our lives. I often say, "Food is love." And I truly believe it!

    I'll leave you with a recipe from the cookbook -- Yulia's Seed Sweets -- created by a Russian woman whose health issues as a child prompted her to create these sweet, nutritious treats which she now shares with her children.

    Disclosure: I was given a complimentary copy of this cookbook for this giveaway.

    Yulia's Seed Sweets
    From Cooking Up a Story: Empowering Women Through Cooking


    1 ¾ cups ground flaxseed
    5 heaping tablespoons carob powder or unsweetened cocoa powder
    1 cup unsweetened natural peanut butter {try to find one that isn't too runny}
    1 cup ground almonds
    ¾ cup honey
    Shredded sesame seeds or unsweetened coconut flakes for coating

    1. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients to form a single mixture.
    2. Mold the mixture into small balls, a little over an inch big.
    3. Roll the balls in the sesame seeds and/or coconut flakes to coat them.
    4. Store them in an opaque container in the refrigerator.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda Romer says

      June 28, 2014 at 11:54 am

      My husband makes turkey croquettes, they are delicious. I never even heard of these until we were married and he started making them. I don't know the origin, but they're a tradition in our home.

      Reply
    2. Lori Church says

      June 28, 2014 at 4:31 pm

      We are a very blended family but Hungarian foods permeated my youth. One of my favorites is chicken paprikash and halupkis... The smell when I make them instantly transports me back in time better than any time machine 🙂

      Reply
    3. TZel says

      June 29, 2014 at 7:22 am

      I have always loved the Sweet and Sour soup, No-Bake Cookies, and Seafoam candy that my grandma makes!

      Reply
    4. Allie BakingAMoment says

      June 29, 2014 at 9:58 pm

      This sounds like such a wonderful book! My husband's Aunt makes the most delicious brisket for all the Jewish holidays. My older son loves and I've tried to recreate "Bubbe Berta's Brisket" for him many times...

      Reply
    5. Sheila says

      June 30, 2014 at 9:39 am

      Salmon croquettes were a special dish my grandmother made for us on Saturday nights after Shabbat, usually as a late nite supper.

      Reply

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    Hi! I'm Dianna. I used to think cooking had to be complicated to be good, so I never considered it "my thing." Now I know that's far from true, and my mission is to create & share easy, mouthwatering recipes - from weeknight dinners to simple bites for entertaining - that anyone can make! Join me in my South Florida kitchen and let's get cooking!

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