Sylvia's Table

August 1, 2013
In fond memory of her young daughter, Neumark dedicated a center on her Hudson Valley farm to educate youth to appreciate and eat fresh, wholesome foods. For those kids who can't travel from the city to the farm, Neumark hosts learning programs in public housing projects. Her commitment to organic farming and her close connection to a number of celebrated chefs have resulted in an attractive cookbook whose recipes take advantage of the best seasonal produce. Not simply a vegetarian effort, the book has plenty of meat and fish recipes. For the purist, Neumark offers directions for a very lightly sweetened and spiced ketchup that lets tomatoes retain their featured position. Although urbanites close to greenmarkets can follow the lead of the seasons with these inventive recipes, this cookbook will yield its best in suburban and rural areas where access to fresh farm produce is easiest.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)