God's Cook Book - 9780982563724

A fascinating mixture of history, religion and recipes, God's Cook Book explores the spiritual traditions of the ancient Levant and how they influenced culinary development. It offers a unique insight into the holy books of the three Abrahamic faiths, (Christianity, Judaism and Islam), and their prescriptions for human nutrition, as well as practical guides allowing the modern-day cook to recreate classical dishes. Complemented by illustrations drawn from the rich archives of the Arcadian Group, this book offers a tantalizing passage into antiquity.


This book does not aim to preach or dwell on the differences among the three faiths, but to celebrate similarities and shared spiritual roots. It is intended as an appreciation of the oneness of the three Abrahamic faiths through the medium of the most universal preoccupation since the dawn of time: food. At the same time, this book is difficult to categorize, encompassing not only cooking, but also art, religion and philosophy.


Today, significant changes in farming and food processing have dramatically altered our diet from that of our ancestors. Intensive farming and processed foods, loaded with artificial sweeteners and flavors, preservatives and other additives are affecting our physical, mental, and indeed our spiritual health. With this dietary demise have come diet-related illnesses, such as heart attacks, clinical obesity and diabetes.


In recent times, this decline is being challenged. Hippocrates' concept of letting our food be our medicine and medicine our food seems increasingly relevant, as the healing powers of certain foods are being rediscovered. There is a growing movement today for simplicity, quality, nurturing and caring for the earth, and sustainability, which is the theme of God's Cook Book.


This theme, and the notion that nutritious and balanced food and drink produce character, and that sound characters can often become respected and influential leaders, takes us straight to the Holy Land. The world's three major monotheistic faiths, and their founders Abraham, Jesus, and Muhammad, all originated in the ancient Near East. These great men all led similar lives, ate similar foods and lived according to the same dietary principles. In terms of faith, they have set an example for millions of people all over the world. Why not then follow their lifestyle guidelines as well?


Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, the Quran and the Hadith, (the recorded sayings and acts of Muhammad), we are given pointers to the kinds of foods we should eat, as well as how and when to eat them, in order to live life to the fullest. The book has liberally sprinkled quotes from these spiritual texts throughout its chapters. More than simply recommending certain foods, these sources encourage us to exercise, to combine certain favorable foods and regulate our intake of others, all principles increasingly advocated by modern research into healthier living. The foods and recipes in God's Cook Book endeavor to follow this spiritual counsel. God's Cook Book aims to respect their dietary guidelines, in however general a sense. Any foods that are prohibited by one or more of the three faiths have been omitted from this book, and all recipes are designed to allow the reader to follow the dietary regulations of all three.