Date: November 18, 2009
by: Dora Walters | Senior Editor

Sandie Cutler Cohen prepares coffee cake with chocolate for the bazaar.

The secret ingredients aren’t secrets anymore.

“The Secret Ingredient,” the Beth Israel Women’s cookbook, edited by Sandie Cutler Cohen, will be unveiled at the BIW annual Holiday Bazaar, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road.

Cohen plans to have at least 30 dishes available to sample, all made from recipes from the book.

Cohen became involved with the project about a year ago when she suggested the idea of a fundraiser cookbook to BIW President Arlene Krum.

First, she conferred with Mary Elizabeth Carey, successful editor of the St. Mary, Star of the Sea, cookbook, “Second Taste of Heaven.”

“She was wonderful; she shared everything with me,” Cohen said.

Cohen set a goal of gathering 345 recipes and asked for favorite recipes from temple members and friends. It was a slow start, but by the time her July deadline came, she had more than enough recipes to fill the book. It took Cohen nearly three months to collect and edit all the recipes.

“Many of our older residents have cut back on their own cooking, but it was a wonderful opportunity for them to share family favorites with daughters and granddaughters,” Cohen said. “It was a challenge, but I’d probably do it again. I enjoyed it and made so many new friends.”

Among the tasting goodies at the bazaar will be Cohen’s coffee cake with chocolate, along with other cooks’ contributions, including corn-fritter casserole, butternut squash and leek soup, herring antipasto, gravlax and brisket.

“The Secret Ingredient” will be on sale at the bazaar for $15.

Contact Dora Walters at dwalters@yourobserver.com.