West Windsor Township Senior Citizens have compiled and published a multi-cultural cookbook. “Our Favorites” will be released on the town’s senior day activities on Friday, May 15. The event is free with a reservation. Books will be available for a $5 donation to benefit the Friends of West Windsor Senior Citizens Enhancement Fund for the senior center.
It all began with one recipe. When Sharon Saluja brought a recipe to the senior center in 2012, everyone wanted a copy. According to cookbook committee members, the idea for a collaborative cookbook started to germinate on that day. A skit was created and performed to interest center members to volunteer recipes or work on the committee.
The nine members of the committee are all active in the center and retired from their professions. They include:
Barbara Aronson, born in Paterson, moved from East Windsor to West Windsor in 2001. She was an office manager for a pediatric dental practice. She volunteers at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro, Village Grande, and with Hadassah.
Shantha Ayer, born in Bombay, India, moved to the U.K. in 1972 and to West Windsor in 1997. She was an ESL coordinator for 20 years in England.
Lakshmi Balachandran, born in India, moved from Canada to West Windsor in 1997. She was a software tester. She was active with the Girl Guides in Canada.
Swaran Pratap, born in Delhi, India, moved to West Windsor in 2007. She was an entrepreneur in the garment industry.
Iris Goldin, born in New Brunswick, moved to West Windsor in 2000. She taught second grade in East Brunswick. She is a member of the trip and social committees at Village Grande.
Bill Anderson, born in Philadelphia, moved to West Windsor in 1991. He is a retired deputy attorney general with the State of New Jersey. He is an officer with the Park Two Homeowner’s Association and the Philatelic Society that meets at Hamilton Library.
Ted Jung, born in China, was raised in Canada and moved to West Windsor in 1982. A registered architect in New York, he was a construction manager. He is very active at the senior center.
Ling-Ling Fan, born in Taiwan, moved to West Windsor 30 years ago. She was the controller for South Brunswick. Her volunteer activities include being an AARP tax adviser and on Medicare patrol. “It feels good when I volunteer,” she says.
Estelle Meltzer, born in Newark, moved from Cranford to West Windsor in 2003. She was a teacher of special education and a guidance counselor for elementary and middle schools. Her volunteer activities include Hadassah, Meals on Wheels, Jewish Family Services, and Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
“We did our own editing to keep costs down,” says Meltzer. “The editing took many hours with the committee meeting three times a week for close to three years.”
The cookbook is spiced up with drawings throughout the pages. “We enlisted artists from the senior center to contribute drawings for the book, and they responded wonderfully,” says Meltzer. The cover art features a globe surrounded by hands of many colors and sizes. Artwork contributors include Michele Bouchard, Lina Chao, Jody Kendall, Rita Maniscalchi, Carol T. Schonfeld, Jackie Wouwenberg, Cynthia Campbell, Judy Kaye, Kuen Lia, E.A. Peck, and Mary Ann Weisser. Russ Johnson was the coordinator.
The recipes were edited for space and uniformity of presentation. Recipes were submitted with weights in both pounds and kilos. Brand names were changed to generic names. Recipes with raw eggs were not used for health reasons.
“The book is very senior friendly,” say committee members. Once the book was complete they shopped around for a cookbook publisher. Each one wanted a different format and Ling-Ling Fan was responsible for making the pages fit. The committee used Jumbo Jack’s Cookbooks in Iowa to print the book.
The committee realized early on that they were not familiar with the spices and foods used to create many of the recipes. There were many field trips to Indian and Asian stores and restaurants in the area. “Because of constraints of time and funding, we have not kitchen-tested these recipes,” say the committee members.
The books includes abbreviations, equivalent measurements, general food hints, tips for cooking Indian food, a seasoning guide, hints for vegetables, dessert hints, substitutions, blank pages for notes, and an extensive index.
The committee agrees that the project uncovered lots of unusual recipes and forged a new set of friendships.
Senior Citizens Day Luncheon, West Windsor Senior Center, 271 Clarksville Road, West Windsor. Friday, May 15, 11 a.m. “Get Into the Act” and celebrate older adults and their contributions to the community. Release of “Our Favorites,” a multi cultural cookbook featuring recipes and art work by members of the senior center.
Books may be purchased for a $5 donation to benefit the Friends of West Windsor Senior Citizens Enhancement Fund for the senior center. Register. Free. 609-799-9068.
