Kosher cookbook emphasizes natural ingredients

The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen Glorious Meals Pure & Simple by Levana Kirschenbaum; Levana Cooks, December 2011; ISBN 978-1-46765-704-2; 398 pages, $39.95

 

By Shari Marks

 

Shari Marks

SAN DIEGO –Levana’s cookbook takes kosher cooking to a higher, loftier level in many of her recipes by adding natural, healthier  ingredients than what one would expect. She encourages pure foods, accessible ingredients and a wide array of flavors, illuminating some wonderful new ideas.  Levana has a whole section of dressings, sauces that one can make without having to buy brand name expensive food  items from the store. Her main idea is to use fresh and good quality ingredients. Every recipe is   clearly coded : meat, dairy, pareve, gluten free, Passover, etc..

I am more of a type that counts carbs in my daily intake,  and some of her “healthy” recipes are  high in carbs even though she is using all natural ingredients.
Since I am a Certified Health Coach, I decided to attempt following  one of the more healthy recipes. In this case a somewhat healthy dessert, that you wouldn’t feel too guilty about. A chocolate mousse, but not just your average one.. A chocolate mousse that tastes delicious, has a great texture, freezes & thaws well,  extremely easy and quick to make. So what made this mousse so unique is that is that it has no eggs in it. This saved time whipping up egg whites and for those people who don’t like eating raw eggs or egg whites this is a great substitute while not having to give up consistency or flavor. What’s the secret? Silken Tofu!. I would have never guessed this myself from tasting it.  The few times I had tried to experiment with it in the past to make a dessert didn’t compare to this delectable recipe.
 
(For a lower calorie option, vodka may be a better source, I did substitute stevia for most of the sugar and added a little chocolate liquor in addition to the brandy, omitted the oil and utlized Trader Joes  brand of chocolate that has a very low sugar content)


Ingredients:

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or grated semisweet chocolate), only the best

2 tablespoons instant coffee powder

1/4 cup water

2/3 cup pure cocoa powder

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoon brandy or rum (unflavored please)

1 pound silken tofu, drained

Instructions:

In a small saucepan, on a very low flame, place all but last ingredient, and cook, stirring, until melted. This will take about 2-3 minutes (Or microwave 2 minutes). Transfer the mixture to a food processor, with the tofu, and process one full minute, until perfectly smooth. Pour the mixture into 6 to 8 dessert glasses or cups, and refrigerate until firm, 2-3 hours.
 

WIth over 400 recipes, this book makes for a wonderful addition to a cookbook library and its illustrations make it nice for the living room table.

 
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Shari Marks is a Certified Health Coach for Take Shape for Life, which is a division of Medifast. www.thintogether.com She lost 50 pounds after having 6 kids & has been coaching for the past 4 years. She is currently working on her own Kosher Version of a Lean & Green Cookbook as an aid for her clients & other Jewish clients at large.  She is also working on her blog www.kosherweightlossmaven.com.  Portrait photo by Tim Otto.