The Modern Menu Review & Giveaway

The Modern Menu Review & Giveaway

While this cookbook may have been published back in March, it’s never too late to bring a fabulous collection of kosher, innovative recipes to your attention.

At first look, The Modern Menu is exactly what it appears to be – modern. The food is laid out perfectly sleek and contemporary, without any over the top garnishes or plating. It simply speaks for itself, and I love that.

Unlike traditional cookbooks, Kim Kushner brings her own style and pizzazz, arranging the cookbook by how the dishes make you feel – from vibrant and indulgent to gutsy and clever. “To my mind,” says Kim, “Less is more, simple is always best, and food should look as good as it tastes and taste as good as it looks.” A healthy philosophy and outlook that should be the motto of every cook in the kitchen.

Browsing through the cookbook, I can’t help but be inspired by Kim’s clean and simple dishes that are so fresh and appealing. I find myself wanting to bookmark every single page. While Kim emphasizes healthy from-scratch ingredients, her Middle Eastern inspired recipes are possible for the novice chef with a well-stocked pantry.  Her dishes remain light, but the flavors seem anything but. Kushner does not shy away from herbs and spices, adding surprising notes to every dish.

I look forward to trying many of The Modern Menu Cookbook recipes including the kohlrabi cabbage salad with maple lemon dressing, crunchy curry cauliflower with tahini and pomegranate, crispy miso marinated chicken, jalapeno and tomato chutney, chicken with pumpkin, figs and honey, tequila london broil with mango chutney, black sesame crusted char, sticky beef ribs, fig and pecan biscotti, plum crumb cake with star anise and individual halvah, gelato and sorbet towers.

If I could critique anything about this wonderful cookbook, it would be to say that some of the recipes require ingredients that may be hard to find. In addition, while I love Kim’s concept for arranging the book’s chapters, it’s slightly difficult to follow the sections when they are categorized this way.

Busy In Brooklyn is giving away a free copy of The Modern Menu.

To enter the giveaway:

1. Leave a comment with your favorite light & healthy summer food/recipe.
2. Like Busy In Brooklyn on Facebook.

Winner will be chosen at random on August 2nd, 2013.

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69 thoughts on “The Modern Menu Review & Giveaway

  1. Saute minced garlic, diced plum tomatoes, basil (fresh or dried), salt and pepper until bubbling. Serve over whole grain or whole wheat pasta, topped with grated Parmesan.

  2. I love salad. I use romaine lettuce as my base. I like to add a variety of different things. Sometimes all together sometimes in different salads. My favorites are chick peas, beets, shredded carrots, black and green olives, hearts of palm, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion. Sometime I like to add a crunch so I would slice in a fruit like an apple or pear. This makes a nice cool and light meal. I always use a lite dressing. That can vary….

  3. I love caprese salad in the summer- fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper- fresh and the ingredients really shine!

  4. My family loves Zha’tar, so most of my fave fast go-to recipes include it. One of them is a Zha’tar Tuna bagel. I fry 2 whole onions with a little bit of Olive oil. Maybe like a Tbsp. Halfway through cooking I add 1 tbsp of Zha’tar and Paprika and a little bit if salt. When it’s done I add a can of tuna, just mix it and put on a lightly toasted bagel. If anyone has a panini press, I put mine on for 3-5 minutes.

  5. My favorite summer food is an herb grilled chicken with grilled zucchini, or a healthy fruit smoothie.

  6. My favorite light summer foods include baked sweet potato fries and onion rings. Also lasagna with veggies instead of pasta

  7. love to make mixed tomatoe salad. its easy light and delicious. yellow, red and purple cherry tomatoes halved. chopped cilantro. toasted pine nuts. toss with s+p, lemon and olive oil.
    pick me. ps- i dont have facebook but would still like to be entered for a chance to win. i do follow you on instagram if that helps

  8. I love anything quinoa during the summer.,mespecially quinoa burgers. So light and refreshing!

  9. For a quick and easy dessert I slice Bananas, strawberries, kiwi and mango and in between each layer in a pie plate…I drizzle melted dark chocolate, a sprinkle of toasted sliced or chopped almonds, ending with chocolate and almonds. Freeze the whole thing. Take out 15 minutes before serving….and slice like a pie. (If you only have bananas just do bananas with melted chocolate and almonds).

  10. Would love to win a free copy of this cookbook!! My favourite healthy recipe would be grilled veggies, garlic, salt/pepper/oil on the BBQ!! Yum

  11. during the summer my favorite healthy treat is a smoothie, somtimes i throw in some cashews and it subs for a meal ;)

  12. I love wild rice salad — it is extremely versatile, since you can serve it cold or hot, and it can be a side or main dish, especially if you add feta. I usually make an adaption of Jamie Geller’s recipe: 1-2 boxes of Near East Long Grain and Wild Rice cooked, then add: craisins, diced red onion, 3-4 T olive oil, 2-3 T vinegar and parsley. It’s a constant favorite for our Shabbos meals!

  13. My favorite is a fruit salad with peaches, blueberries, and green grapes mixed up with some mint sugar — perfect year round but amazing on a hot summer day!

  14. Interesting concept for a kosher cookbook and filled with lots of interesting recipes. Don’t know if you want any summer recipe of one from her book: I like her Jalapeno and Tomato Chutney: smear some cream cheese on baguette rounds, top with the chutney and there you have a terrific summer hors d’oeuvre. Other than that my favorite light summer recipe is tomato salad with good olive oil and freshly ground black pepper.

  15. I like to make grilled halloumi and grilled fruit (peaches, nectarines, cherries, etc.) salad, on a bed of greens with a drizzle of good balsamic. So light and fresh!

  16. My favorite light summer meal is grillimg up eggplant, portabello mushrooms and asparagus and finishing the meal with a strawberry shortcake made with homemade sweet biscuits.

  17. Asparagus (can use on green beans as well)
    2 bunches of asparagus (2 lbs. asparagus)
    3/4 cup olive oil
    3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
    1 garlic clove,chopped
    1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
    2 Tsp lemon zest
    1/2 Tsp salt
    1/2 Tsp pepper
    Bake the asparagus or make it however you like/want.

  18. Broccoli with olive oil,salt,pepper and garlic powder baked in the oven.most delicious snack and very healthy.

  19. My favorite light and healthy food is a slice of toasted sprouted whole grain bread with avacado and touch of sea salt. Simple, wholesome, and heavenly! This cookbook looks really interesting and I’d love to win!
    xo
    Sharon

  20. My favorite dish would have to be some fish on the grill zested in lemon and rice. Oh and a cup of lemonade :)

  21. fresh salad, with sliced radishes, purple onion, and cucumbers. A perfect vinaigrette to finish it off.

  22. I recently started making quinoa patties-lightly sauted onions, chives, a sprinkling of parmesan cheese-delicious!

  23. green beans with garlic, tomatoes and basil. I’m making it right now and my house smells like heaven!!

  24. Best light summer dinner is scrambled eggs with cut up tomatoes curbys, purple onions and feta cheese on top. Light and simple

  25. Like you on Facebook long ago! Our new fav summertime snack is frozen babana slices with a shmear of peanut butter in between.
    Hope I win the book

  26. Tomatoes with garlic, basil, salt, but if sugar, black crushed peppercorns, olive oil- process in food processor till smooth and purchase loaf of fresh baguette for dipping

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