Feed the Resistance

October 23, 2017
While attending an immigration rights meeting with her wife, author Turshen (The Hot Bread Kitchen Cookbook) had an epiphany: “complacence was no longer a luxury any of us could afford” given the current political climate. Inspired, she reached out to fellow cooks and authors and assembled this short and spotty guide of recipes and tips to fuel social activism. Citizen Action’s Callie Jayne’s essay on organized activism is terrific and sure to inspire, but food writer Tunde Wey’s effort at tying sex to food falls flat. The food is a similar mishmash of styles and approaches. Turshen includes recipes to feed an army at meetings (Thai yellow curry vegetable pot), highlight specific causes (Manoomin elk meatballs), pack for marches (baked oatmeal and apple squares), or simply show off one’s culinary skills (the 33-ingredient Brazilian fish pot pie). Some recipes, like the labor- and time-intensive mushroom gumbo in a dark roux (contributed by Bryant Terry, chef at the Museum of African Diaspora), raise the question of whether such a dish is the best use of an activist’s time. The book’s heart is clearly in the right place, but it would have benefitted from more time in the oven.

December 1, 2017

An army marches on its stomach, and an army of activists is no different. Turshen's (Small Victories) latest cookbook is dedicated to feeding people with purpose and making it easy to do so. Featuring recipes from the author and a diverse group of contributors, the book is divided into three sections: "Easy Meals for Folks Who Are Too Busy Resisting To Cook" (e.g., Greek chickpea salad; sheet pan sausage, potatoes, and red cabbage), "Feeding the Masses: Food for Crowds" (e.g., easy posole, tikka masala macaroni and cheese), and "Baked Goods and Portable Snacks" (e.g., baked oatmeal and apple squares, chocolate espresso pie bars). Included throughout are essays on topics such as how food can impact communities and help end recidivism. Lists such as Ten Things You Can Do in Less Than Ten Minutes and Twenty Places To Reach Out To appear at the end. Though there are no photographs, the design is appealing and modern. VERDICT A unique resource that deserves a place in public libraries.--Stephanie Klose, Library Journal

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