Before It's Too Late

A memoir and cookbook combine a family’s fascinating immigration tale from Lithuania — some to Palestine, some to America — and the foods that sustained them across generations. These treasured recipes collected from family and friends are interpreted and updated to make them not just delicious, but healthy, too. This colorful read brims with interesting information on the hows and whys of methods, foods, and ingredients. A treasure of relevant quips and quotes from famous people, and dollops of humor, make the recipes as interesting and entertaining as they are scrumptious. Beautiful photography abounds throughout.

 The book begins with Thoughts on Food and Morning Meals. Appetizers feature Mushroom Rollups and Vegetarian Chicken Liver. Main Events offers dishes for meals such as Ferko’s Fabulous Baked Fish, Rachel’s Shakshuka, and Perfect Roast Chicken. Soups highlight Mushroom Barley and Fish Chowders. Salads range from Cardini’s original Caesar, as told to the author’s husband by Cardini himself, to Ittai’s Spicy Asian Cabbage. Holiday Specialties reveal the secret of Aunt Miriam’s Surprise Motza Balls, Mimi’s long-lost recipe for Taglech, and Vegetarian Tsimmis. Among Desserts: Nana’s fabulous Lemon Chiffon Pie, the author’s Chocolate Pudding from Scratch, Jill’s original, decedent yet totally healthy, Festivus Cake. This colorful read brims with interesting information on the hows and whys of methods, foods, and ingredients. A treasure of relevant quips and quotes from famous people, and dollops of humor, make the recipes as interesting and entertaining as they are scrumptious. Beautiful photography abounds throughout.

Ellie Miller is a former copywriter, publicist, painter and ceramist. She prepared food for caterers, special-needs diets (including macro-biotic), and many joyous dinner parties with friends and family. In 2016 she won first prize in the Ikea “The Way We Cook Contest.” Before It’s Too Late showcases her inspiring ideas, knowledge, and artistry in preparing and presenting food.