Faith Kramer loves the experience of cooking with others, as well as sharing meals.

“We all enjoy eating,” says Kramer, author of 52 Shabbats: Friday Night Dinners Inspired by a Global Jewish Kitchen. “You layer on the Jewish food symbolism and food history, and it becomes a very important event.”

Debra Eckerling speaks with Faith Kramer about community cooking and being creative in the kitchen, as well as her recipe for Fruit and Vegetable Salad Rolls and what inspired it.

For those who want to be better at cooking – and enjoying the experience or preparing food – Kramer says to cook often, read through recipes, so there are no surprises, and be sure to try new things.

“The more you educate your palate and the more you gain the muscle skills, the better and easier it will be to cook,” she said.

Her biggest tip: Don’t set yourself up to do too much, when preparing a meal, especially when you are entertaining.

“I talk about intention, and if your intention is to have a nice meal, whether it’s a Shabbat meal or not, you don’t necessarily have to make restaurant perfect food,” Kramer said.

That means you can make an easy green bean recipe, serve a rotisserie chicken and/or buy brownies for dessert.

“It’s still an occasion … if you outsource [some of the] elements or you do it as a potluck,” she said.

Your guests would rather have you relaxed, happy and joining them, than to have a perfect meal.

“I like people to look at the intention and not get caught up in perfection,” Kramer said.

Read the full article about Faith Kramer, listen to the podcast, and get the recipe,