Its a warm, sunny autumn day and a new cookbook has flopped onto the mat for review. Its neat size and strong evocative picture on the cover, which in itself is tactile and inviting, are reasons enough for me to pick it up immediately and begin to browse.
Inside I find myself captivated at first glance by the beautiful photography, the careful choice of a paper that calls to mind the printing presses of old, and by the recipes themselves. Where to start when faced with the idea of making Frittura Mista di Verdure (fried flowers and vegetables), the time consuming Ribollita (classic tuscan vegetable-bread soup), - my favourite Pomodori, Fagioli,e Cipollini (roasted tomatoes, beans and onions), Involtini di Maiale (pork rolls stuffed with ricotta and spinach) or Brasato al Midollo (braised beef with marrow and shallots). For those with a sweet tooth Mele al Forno (baked apples) can bring back childhood memories, and of course I will be trying Beetle's favourite, the mouthwatering Crostate di Prugne (plum jam tart).
But to view this as just a cook book would be to miss the point. Rather it is Pamela Sheldon Johns' personal homage to the courage and fortitude of all those who have lived and fought through hard times with ingenuity and grace, and as such deserves to be savoured and appreciated.
In Cucina Povera she has created a journey of memories that rise up like the steam from the cauldrons they recall, imbuing the book with the scents and images of times gone by, and illustrating a generosity of spirit which can be shared by all those who take up the challenge and cook something from it.
Under the book's dedication to Edna and Alvin Sheldon, she has written 'When life starts simple, influences from the outside world don't change it much' - a wise sentiment which we would all do well to remember.
DOVE COME QUANDO
Cucina Povera
Tuscan Pesant Cooking
Tuscan Pesant Cooking
Pamela Sheldon Johns
Andrews mcMeel Publishing
euro 14.27/$ 21.00
192 pages
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