Palestine on a Plate: Memories from My Mother’s Kitchen by Joudie Kalla (Interlink Publishing Group)

Food is one of the most powerful ways to communicate a people’s heritage and presence, and Joudie Kalla has done just that with her essential Palestinian cookbook. Stuffed with healthy recipes and a “Sweet Tooth” chapter for every occasion and beautifully appetizing photography, Palestine on a Plate (Interlink Publishing) is an endearing tribute to the Palestinian people’s bountiful culture. This isn’t your typical chef’s cookbook: Kalla writes from the heart. Take her recipe for Yaffa Orange Cheesecake: “Yaffa oranges are probably the most recognized oranges in the world. They come from Yaffa, a beautiful town in Palestine where the orange groves are worth writing poetry for. This is where my grandmother Najla originally came from. She absolutely loves it there and had many memories of playing by the sea with her friends and picking oranges, so this recipe is for her.”

The recipes are rooted in family history, and the spirit of Palestine shines on every page. Kalla adds her contributions to the family canon as culinary culture blossoms with every generation, such as her decadent Lemon & Rose Doughnuts where “the essence of the Middle East really shines through here with the fragrant rose water, tangy lemon icing drizzled across the surface, and the dried rosebuds crushed on top.” This isn’t a cookbook that’s fun to look at but intimidating to attempt: Palestine on a Plate’s easy-to-follow recipes for everyday cooks is part of its beauty.