Dinner Done 1 and 2

If you live in a large Jewish community that keeps kosher, you are probably familiar with the phenomenon that is Dinner Done. The first cookbook, created by the Between Carpools team, was a huge success and the sequel flew off shelves when it was published this November. I’m not immune to hype, and obviously had to check them out. 

Dinner Done is known for its fast and easy recipes – there is an entire section in both books of recipes that can be completely assembled in a single 9 x 13 pan. While I prefer not to use disposables (yes, I’m one of those crunchy granola people), I found this section very appealing for feeding people quickly when I get home from work. Pyrex works just as well as aluminum and there’s even a little paragraph in one of the book about how to adjust based on your pan. The birthday cake cake bars, pareve cholent, various potatoes, cookie sticks, and chicken nugget were all winners. There are also sections on slightly more involved recipes that are also totally worth it. Hot dog burnt ends? Devoured in seconds by picky eaters. The rice and flanken crockpot dish, not so much. 

There is also a little bit of controversy in the community surrounding the cookbooks. When Dinner Done first came out some people were very upset that none of the authors had their picture in the book. Instead, their biographies were printed next to cute spice dishes and kitchen utensils. I don’t know if this was the choice of the women or their publisher, and I am generally not a fan of what I see as erasure of perfectly modest women from Jewish publications, but I also try not to judge. As an author, I don’t use a photo for myself because of stalking concerns. So I’d like to extend a little grace here. And I strongly disagree with the people who take umbrage at the “between carpools” team name, stating it makes it look like all Jewish women do is take care of kids and cook. In fact, I have two full time jobs and I still drive carpool! And I also fully support my peers who choose not to work outside of the home if they have the resources to support that lifestyle. That’s actual feminism. Supporting ALL of our choices. Not just your preferred one. 

These women have some serious skills. The design on these books is gorgeous. They developed, styled, and photographed the entire themselves and likely did a lot of the malting too by creating their famous website. The recipes are almost all easy and tasty. That is a job my friends. And they are very good at it. It’s a very giftable set of books, but also something to buy for yourself. It has made my life easier as a working woman. If they put out a third volume, I’m likely pre-ordering.

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Find it:

Dinner Done: Amazon

Dinner Done 2: Amazon