Second Annual Readers' Choice Survey
Special Chanukah Edition of writing, reading, recommendations & recipes
Dear friends,
Happy Chanukah to all who are celebrating and Merry Christmas to those celebrating next week! May we use this holiday season to spread some light with words and books!
Second Annual Readers’ Choice Survey
Just for fun! I created a quick, 2-minute Readers’ Choice survey where you can list your five favorite books of the year. (Note: the books do not need to have been published in 2022…just your five favorites). I’ll publish the results in my January newsletter. It will be interesting to see if there is any consensus, and I’m looking forward to checking out the books I haven’t read yet. Please help by filling out the survey! Thank you!
I’ve already added my five favorites…that being said, there’s still a week and a half left of 2022, so it’s possible I’ll change my vote. (If you’ve already submitted your choices and want to change them - just let me know). Here’s what I’m reading right now: Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So (current book) and Lessons by Ian McEwan (current audiobook) — both are very good. Next up: All That She Carried by Tiya Miles (my book club is discussing this one on Dec 29), and then The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi and/or The Promise by Damon Galgut.
What are you reading right now?
My Chanukah Story & Gift Suggestions
In case you missed it last year: My Chanukah story Rock of Ages was published by JewishFiction.net. (It’s a new Jeremiah story that was written after The Book of Jeremiah came out). Enjoy!
And if you’re looking for gift suggestions — I didn’t have time to update this from last year — but here again is the collage of books written by members of a group of Jewish women writers I'm privileged to be in. There’s something for everyone. Many of the authors have appeared at Literary Modiin, and others are old and new friends. Check out these titles!
Recipe: Cauliflower Latkes
I love everything cauliflower, so when my husband suggested we make cauliflower latkes instead of potato latkes, I was all in favor. It’s been a busy few days, so I haven’t actually made these yet, but I intend to. Recipe courtesy of my friend and neighbor Giora Shimoni, on The Spruce Eats website. Check out his other recipes as well.
Ingredients
1 large head cauliflower, fresh, washed, and cut into florets
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup white whole-wheat flour, or matzah meal, plus extra if needed
1 teaspoon sea salt, or kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper, or black pepper
2 quarts sunflower oil, or canola oil, enough for frying
In a large stockpot, bring a few inches of water to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets, reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the florets are soft enough to be mash easily with a fork.
Drain the cauliflower and mash lightly with a fork, leaving some texture. Set aside to cool.
Place cauliflower in a mixing bowl. Stir in the beaten eggs. Sprinkle with the flour or matzah meal, and mix well to create a pancake-like batter. Season with the salt and pepper.
Warm a few tablespoons of oil, and when the oil is hot, drop the batter by tablespoonfuls into the pan, taking care not to crowd the pan. Flatten the pancakes a bit so they cook evenly. Fry approximately 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until the latkes are browned on both sides and firm in the middle.
Remove latkes onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess oil. Keep warm in a baking sheet in the oven while making the remaining batches. Serve hot.
Happy holidays, all. See you on January 1 with the survey results, book recs, writing notes, recipes & more!
Request: If you’ve read (and liked) The Book of Jeremiah, please help me out by writing a brief review on Amazon or wherever you purchase books online. It can be as simple as one or two lines. Thank you!
Julie Zuckerman's debut novel-in-stories, The Book of Jeremiah, was published in May 2019 by Press 53. Her fiction and non-fiction have appeared in CRAFT, Tikkun, Jewish Women’s Archives, Crab Orchard Review, The Coil, The SFWP Quarterly, Ellipsis, MoonPark Review, Sixfold, and The MacGuffin, among others. A native of Connecticut, she lives in Israel with her husband and four children. www.juliezuckerman.com