“Elana is passionate about food and about convincing everyone how much fun and rewarding it is to cook at home. Her creative and simple foolproof recipes emphasize quality, flavor, taste and presentation. Elana inspires and influences us with her excitement for home cooking because the food is simple to prepare with amazing outcomes. ”
— suzanne schwitzer
“I just wanted to let you know that I went home and read your book (it’s awesome by the way) and brought the Blueberry Cobbler to a party yesterday and it was a hit! I’m feeling more confident in the kitchen already! Thank you again very much! I’m looking forward to creating more food with love and sharing that with others.”
— instagram follower
“I fed my 8-year-old son the Nori Avocado Bomb from Elana’s ‘11 Healthy Snacks for the Munchies’ video and he ate 4 of them!! My husband says we will never have to go out to sushi again because it satisfies our every sushi craving. We are loving it.”
— Josephine P.
“What was the big hit at our seder? Elana’s roasted cauliflower! I use her recipes all the time!”
— Lori T.
“I just watched some of Elana’s videos online. I LOVE YOU. Elana’s shit is so funny and, at the same time, SINCERE in such a non-bullshitty way that is so refreshing.”
— Sara A.
“The kugel was amazing. My guests couldn’t believe it was non-dairy! Yum! I also made your roasted vegetable recipes. It was a great combination. So easy beautiful and tasted great.”
— Nancy S.
“Elana and her cooking classes have truly changed my life and therefore the lives of my appreciative family and friends. As opposed to “only on special occasions,” our lives are regularly more delicious and fun. Elana is a magnificent teacher, which starts always with her true and beautiful heart.”
— K.J. L.
“Elana has taken the expertise she cultivated while living abroad 4 years in Italy and has lovingly built upon it to hone serious, extensive, and delicious, yet practical culinary chops. She welcomes you like a friend, and magnanimously shares her tricks of the trade…”
— Caitlin D.
“My boyfriend hates vegetables, but he’ll eat anything I make that’s Elana’s! It’s so true.”
— Rachel D.
“Thank you so much for tonight, I absolutely loved the class and my classmates… and most of all, Elana. What a gift she has for the “spiel.” You can see how much she really LOVES food and teaches it to others. I can’t wait to impart my new knowledge on my date this weekend!!!”
— Ashley W.
“The book is done so well that It makes you just want to engage immediately. Last night, I started to read Elana’s story and find it fascinating.”
— Nili L.
“This is the most amazing cookbook I have ever owned. With the most number of recipes I actually will make and my family actually will eat!!! And I’m laughing out loud as I read.”
— Laura B.
“This is a masterpiece! I got the book Tuesday and could not put the book down for several hours. It’s fantastic...I’ve read many cookbooks over the years and Elana’s is by far the most engaging. The images, the recipe choices, her stories and the overall design of the book are terrific. For me what really sets this book apart from others is not only the content - her wit of course- but the book itself is so styled. From the font and graphics to the textured cover to the hot pink grosgrain page finder, I want to prominently display it on a stand on my kitchen counter for everyone to see.”
— Amy M.
“I’ve been reading Elana’s book over the last several days. Can’t tell you how impressed I am. Her writing is spectacular. I can’t wait to test the various ideas she has put forward. I never realized that cooking was more than just following a written recipe. My mind is in an entirely different place since reading her thoughts and words and feelings.”
— Michal Y.
“My boyfriend said it was the best homemade pasta he ever had.”
— Val (About the "Pasta al Tonno e Capperi")
“I made Elana’s flourless chocolate blender cake with my 7-year-old daughter who is so excited about her book. Her encouragement to be playful gave me the confidence to try it all in one large pan, instead of individual ramekins. It was amazing! I’ve already brought it to a friend’s dinner party — I baked it there — and this will be my go-to for every dinner party I’m ever invited to!!! So easy and delicious!”
— Stacey B.
“I have read Elana’s cookbook ( like a novel) and it is simply wonderful. I have been making her recipes for a while but the cookbook brings it all together in such a valuable, informative and interesting way. Elana is a great thinker and writer.”
— Marlene G.
“I am thoroughly enjoying this part memoir, part coaching, lots of humor cookbook. Elana is a wonderful teacher. ”
— Orna W.
“I love Elana’s book! I was seated in my family room last night reading herbook like a novel, and I just beamed when I got to the part where she said that cooking is about sharing love through your hands...I love her honesty and the way she talks about life and food.”
— Jeanne M.
“I gave copies of the book to everyone in my office as a holiday gift and they are walking around reading one-liners out loud and laughing.”
— Ari E.
“Truly a family favorite! We never have enough for me to take to work the next day because my family finishes it up in one meal. LOVE this cookbook!”
— Lindsey A.
“Elana is a marvelous cook and absolutely a riot (but you knew that). She is also an excellent teacher. I had such fun reading through her book last night, her voice and perspective ring out on every page. While geared to the less experienced cook, I found things I wanted to make on every page.”
— Steven S.
“Cannot put this book down! I’m reading it cover to cover! It’s honestly the best cookbook I’ve ever come across. She’s a food genius. She’s my new food idol, right up there with Ina!”
— Kate
“Elana is a talented writer, with such a wonderful sense of humor and razor-sharp wit that can certainly draw raves from any audience, including her students. She is quite a woman.”
— Susan R.
“Elana is amazing. Her recipes make cooking like a badass so achievable.”
— Debbie S.
“You are such a wonderful role model for women and men both young and old(er). So many people say there isn’t time to cook in their busy lives but you make cooking easy, simple and healthy and not a time-consuming problem.”
— patsy palmer
“Elana is amazing. Her recipes make cooking like a badass so achievable”
— debbie wasserman schultz
“I followed Elana’s rack of lamb recipe to the “T” for a dinner party and it was perfect. They devoured it! So delicious. Thank you.”
— Tiffany Y.
“My fiance wouldn’t eat yams, but he loves them in Elana’s Tuscan Roasted Vegetables. I use Elana’s recipes all the time. He was so picky, but not anymore.”
— Kara Z.
““Elana is such a wonderful role model for women and men both young and old(er). So many people say there isn’t time to cook in their busy lives but Elana makes cooking easy, simple and healthy and not a time-consuming problem.”
— Patsy P.
“The Roasted Tomato on Multi-grain Toast with Raw Honey and Fresh Basil was an unexpected surprise! I loved the combination of the sweet raw honey with the savory roasted tomato. I’ve made it several times already, and everyone loves it as much as I do!”
— Diana
“Much like all the best hostesses, Elana has an amazing energy that enabled us to feel relaxed and at home right away.”
— Kimberly W.
“Elana is passionate about food and about convincing everyone how much fun and rewarding it is to cook at home. Her creative and simple foolproof recipes emphasize quality, flavor, taste and presentation...Elana inspires and influences us with her excitement for home cooking because the food is outstanding and each dish is simple to prepare with amazing outcomes.”
— Suzanne S.
“The Rosemary Spiked Cannellini Crostini was a fabulous success! People were raving about it and I should have made double. We also made Elana’s Berry Cobbler and people were obsessed with it. Thanks for being my secret weapon.”
— Rachel R.
“I love to read what Elana writes...As I’ve followed her career, I’ve so enjoyed reading about her many successes. She is truly a singular example of someone doing what he/she loves along with managing, sustaining and growing a thriving business. Her personal fulfillment seems to pervade everything she does.”
— Susan G.
“Before Elana, I used to define cooking as standing over the sink to eat a sandwich. Elana makes it really easy to learn how to cook (even for me) and the food is unbelievably good. Her Coconut Carob Trail-mix Cookie is the best cookie I’ve ever had, hands down!”
— Julie S.
“Never before have I stayed up past my intended bedtime to read a cookbook. I can’t put it down.”
— Jill V.B.
“I usually read non-fiction, but I think the new genre for my reading is Elana’s style and content. I’ve already changed my cooking habits: no more measuring. I felt like I was in sunny Italy with her. The problem is I get ravenously hungry if I read too much at a time.”
— Idell N.
“I realized that this is what I have been waiting for...Elana’s book is inspiring and thoughtful and beautifully written. It is elegant and presented in such a logical and direct manner, that I couldn’t put it down.”
— Shari W.
“My girlfriend and I went through the whole book and loved it! So many great photos and an amazing read. We both laughed hard at ‘get ready to see some undies.’”
— James C.
“We cooked a Meal and a Spiel feast tonight. We made Chicken Sorrentino with chopped tomatoes, Tricolore Salad and the Green Beans with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes. Fantastic...Seriously amazing dinner.”
— Robert W.
“Elana never ceases to amaze me. I made Angie’s chicken, Elana’s roasted green beans with cherry tomatoes and the flattened roasted fingerling potatoes. Truly one of the best meals we’ve ever had. I’m obsessed with her cookbook!”
— Amanda K.
“I made the cauliflower last night, and it was DELICIOUS! Who knew that a few simple ingredients would do it… I’m going to make this recipe a staple for light dinner nights.”
— Evelyn Vasquez
“My wife just made her brisket and it is the best brisket I’ve ever had.”
— Greg S.
“I am so happy I got to not only recipe test for Meal and a Spiel and fall in love with the book myself, but I gave it to my BFF- a vegetarian and total foodie- and she fell with the stories and the food. Thank you for making this beautiful package of love!”
— Heather P.
“Who knew that a few simple ingredients would do it?! I’m going to make the roasted cauliflower recipe a staple for dinner!”
— Evelyn V.
“I’ve cooked every single vegetable recipe in the cookbook- so so good!!”
— Annabrooke T.
“Ms. Horwich wrote a cookbook called Meal and a Spiel (and owns her own business providing cooking lessons). The cookbook is beautiful and hip and meant to be read in bed!
What struck me most about her cooking demonstration and presentation Saturday evening was not the cooking itself (which was fun and delicious), but her story and her zest for human connection and joy through cooking and food. Ms. Horwich seems to possess the all-too-rare ability to truly connect with people where they are and the intuition to tailor her experiences based on her audience to find a way to share her joy and inspire others to find joy, even in minute ways, in their lives.”
— Judith B.
“I made Quattro Formaggio cauliflower last night and when my kids saw it was cauliflower they made a face and said they wouldn’t eat it. I said fine but you have to try it. Not a drop was left. The whole baking dish!!!!”
— Stacey F.
“I just wanted to let you know that I went home, read your book (it’s awesome by the way!!) and brought the Blueberry Cobbler to a party yesterday and it was a hit!! I’m feeling more confident in the kitchen already! Thank you again very much! I’m looking forward to creating more food with love and sharing that with others.”
