I really like cookbooks. I have a lot of them. I have old ones, new ones, specialty ones, fun ones, Pesach ones, you name it. So, when I get a really, really good one – especially one that I get to review, I get gleeful!
“The Silver Platter – simple to spectacular, wholesome, family-friendly recipes” by Daniella Silver with tips & techniques from Norene Gilletz, is awesome. Amazing. Super Outstanding. I love this cookbook! It’s kind of rare for me to open up a cookbook and want to make nearly every single recipe in the book. Which is why it took me a few weeks to write this review…I was busy making recipes! First, this cookbook is visually beautiful. Each picture enhances the appeal of each recipe. I wanted to do a Willy Wonka thing and pull the food right off the page (it didn’t work…sad face). Visual appeal is important in a cookbook because it entices you to actually use the book to make the recipes – this is how it can look on your table!!
Second, I love my dear friend Norene Gilletz’s comments throughout the book. They are SO useful. Because Norene is a cooking guru/expert/queen, novices and experts alike can learn from her informative tips.
Third, in this day of GFEs (Gluten Free Eaters), how handy is it that each and every recipe has a note regarding the recipes GFE status and how to convert the recipe if possible? Fantastic! It’s like a GFE cookbook…within a cookbook!
Fourth, there is also nutrition information for each and every recipe in the back of the book. Watching that waistline? With the information that Daniella gives you, you can make healthy choices.
Which brings us to reason #5 why I love this book. Most of the recipes are super healthy. They are also new, refreshing and very current. Spiralized veggies, quinoa, fresh fruits & vegetables…it’s why I wanted to make so many of the recipes in the book.
The recipes that I made in this book got rave reviews by my testers (AKA family, friends, Shabbat guests). None of the recipes were terribly difficult to make and quite frankly I would make them again – after I made other recipes in the book!
Bottom Line: Get this book! I know that you can find tons of recipes online these days, but this book is beautiful, fun to read, with a lot of “simple to spectacular, wholesome, family-friendly recipes” all in one book. The line in the title isn’t there for nothing! Thanks again Daniella & Norene for such a great cookbook – it’s going in an easily accessible spot on my cookbook shelf!
So…here are the recipes I made:
Asian-Style Rice Paper Rolls
I was rice paper challenged – until I made this recipe. The first time I ever tried to make rice paper rolls I thought I was supposed to let them soak or boil for around 30 minutes, like rice noodles. All of you that know that is not how to use rice paper are all shaking your heads either laughing hysterically or crying noooooooooooooooooo! Thanks to Daniella and Norene’s useful tip I was able to make these gorgeous Asian-Style Rice Paper rolls for a Shabbat appetizer. Everyone loved them and thought the mix of flavors in the roll were very unique and fresh. I liked them so much I re-made them to take pictures and am really looking forward to a delicious lunch thanks to Daniella and Norene!
Check out how colorful & beautiful these are! |
Roasted Eggplant Dip
There are a lot of great dips and snacks in this book. My family has been asking for dips to eat with their challah at our Shabbat table, and there were so many in The Silver Platter that I took the opportunity to appease my family. The Roasted Eggplant Dip was great, a little on the sweet side too. Mine didn’t turn out quite as red as the one in the photo but it was healthy and tasty!
Spicy Lemon Hummus & Roasted Eggplant Dip |
Spicy Lemon Hummus
We eat a lot of Hummus in our house, and we like it HOT! The Spicy Lemon Hummus was super easy to make, and tasted great. I made enough that we could snack on it during the week. Dear son likes his Hummus super spicy so he even added some schug to it to give it even more kick!
Sesame Ginger Chicken
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 chicken (about 3 lb) cut into eighths
- ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
- ¼ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsp)
- 2 tsp minced fresh ginger
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil (optional)
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- sliced scallions, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉.
- Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Trim and discard excess fat from chicken pieces.
- Remove skin, if desired.
- Arrange chicken in a single layer in prepared dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, if using.
- Mix well.
- Using a pastry brush, coat chicken with half of marinade; reserve remaining marinade.
- Bake covered for 45 minutes,
- Coat chicken with remaining marinade; sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake uncovered, 30 minutes longer, until glazed and golden
- Transfer to a serving platter; garnish with scallions.
Roasted Eggplant Dip
Mix the veggies in a bowl with the seasoning…
Smile for the close up!
SO colorful!!!
All roasted! I want to eat these NOW!!!
Into the processor with the paste…whirrrrrrr….
Can’t even wait for a bowl! No double dipping!
Spicy Lemon Hummus
SO easy…just 2 steps!!!
Smooth!
Asian-Style Rice Paper Rolls
All the cut up insides…
Dip the rice paper…dip, not boil!
It’s ready…take it out!
Place the stuffing inside…
Roll & tuck…
One done!
In case you missed the first, here’s a second…
Rock & roll baby!
Gorgeous!
Just gorgeous!
Norene Gilletz says
Sharon, thanks SO much for your totally awesome review of The Silver Platter – it's 'simply spectacular!' Daniella Silver and I are just thrilled!! Love your comments, love your step-by-step photos. This is probably my favorite review ever!!!!!