Title:	The Arab-Israeli Cookbook - recipes: The Recipes
	Author:	Robin Soans
	Published:	January 26, 2006, Aurora Metro Books
	No. of Pages:	96
	Cover Price:	$22.95

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With the latest problems in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, most of us are curious about the people in these countries. Robin Soans interviewed dozens of residents of these areas in 2004, and released them in a popular docudrama. That’s why the book containing the recipes from the docudrama, The Arab-Israeli Cookbook - recipes: The Recipes, has been re-released and is enjoying a new surge of readers and cooks. This cookbook, while only 96 pages, is fascinating, and contains not only the recipes of those interviewed, but also glimpses into their lifestyles and what it is like to live there.

The recipes are very appealing, and readers will definitely want to prepare them at home. It may necessitate a trip to a Middle Eastern grocery store, but it will be worth it. Many of the ingredients are actually available in larger grocery stores nowadays, however. The recipes are easy to follow and are written in the traditional manner with the ingredients listed first, followed by step-by-step instructions. The recipes range from an incredibly delicious Fattoush, to Falafel, to Borekas, to chicken and beef dishes (a recipe for Goat’s Testicles is also included, but most of us won’t be interested). There are also some mouthwatering desserts that are definitely worth making. Another plus to the cookbook is that there are photographs, beautiful professional photographs of the recipes and of the people.

All told, this is an interesting study of the people and culture of Israel and Palestine. It is fascinating to read and fun to cook from.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.