Letting Traditional Foods Take Kids through the Alphabet and into the Kitchen: Jewish Eats A to Z

Nov 10, 2026 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Sue Weston and Susie Rosenbluth, Two Sues on the Aisle

Just in time for Thanksgiving, which means perfect for Chanukah, Alyssa Kazin Rishty, a Jersey girl who lives walking distance to the Asbury Park boardwalk, has notified us about her ABC-and-kid-friendly cookbook, Jewish Eats A to Z.

Dedicated to her grandfather, Poppa Bill, who worked in kosher delis throughout Queens and Brooklyn, the book starts with his rhyme: “Honey sweet, can’t be beat/Rolls in your belly and tickles your feet,” and proceeds to illuminate the alphabet with Jewish foods, ranging from “A is for afikomen/On Pesach, we find it after we eat” and “B is for black-and-white cookies/a delicious bakery treat” to “Y is for Yemeni lahuhu ‘pizza’ rolls/ they’re so yummy you got it twice” and “Z is for za’atar/ a really tasty spice.”

In between, the foods, including challah, deli sandwiches, an etrog, and farfel (you get the idea), are depicted in muted, soothing pastels, letting the giggles come from the words and verses, such as “S is for sufganiyot/Powdered sugar and filled with jelly” and “T is for tzimmes—carrots and sweet potatoes in your belly.”

At the end, she includes easy recipes for, among other goodies, Bubbe’s Simple Brisket Sauce, Chocolate-Covered Matzohs, Challah French Toast, Will’s Pickle Brine, and Raisin Kugel.

Available on Amazon, Jewish Eats A to Z is recommended for babies through eight-year-olds, but parents will definitely enjoy it too.