Book Chatter

The School of Essential Ingredients
By Erica Bauermeister
(Berkley Trade, Paperback, 9780425232095, January 2010, 272pp.)

The Short of It:

The School of Essential Ingredients is the panacea for all that ails you.

The Rest of It:

What can I say about this book that hasn’t already been said? Well, coming from a person who prefers heavier fiction over cozy reads, I can tell you that I would not have picked it up on my own, had it not been for the wonderful reviews its received. Additionally, I heard Bauermeister speak at a local bookstore and I liked HER. Does that ever happen to you? You like the author as a person, so then you pick up his/her book? I admired the easy, effortless way she read and her characters seemed to have heart.

In School, Lillian owns a restaurant. A lovely little thing, with cozy, intimate spaces that open to a gorgeous garden. Each Monday, once a month, she teaches a cooking class. The participants change regularly, but each group brings with them, memories of lost loves, heartache, the awkwardness of a first kiss, the warm scent of a freshly washed baby. As the students learn the importance of experiencing their meals and not just cooking them, the reader is treated to little bit of history on each participant.

There are many, wonderful characters but I identified the most with Claire. A mother of two and happily married, Claire lost a little piece of herself when she had her first child. That page and a half where she talks about her loss and what she gained in return, nearly brought tears to my eyes. I think a lot of women have probably felt that way at one point. I know I did. That moment where you realize that you are now responsible for this other person, and that you will never, ever be the same. It’s wonderful yet also a little bit sad.

Ultimately, this is a feel-good book. It’s warm and inviting and incredibly satisfying. At one point, it seemed almost too good to be true but I took my critical hat off and just enjoyed it for what it was. If you read this book, and I suggest that you do, you MUST have food on hand. After finishing the book, I spent an entire weekend cooking and savoring delicious meals. This book is so popular that I’m surprised it wasn’t followed up with a cookbook. Or, some sort of cooking retreat. I’d be the first in line to reserve my spot.

To the more serious readers, I dare you to read this book and not feel good about it afterward.

Source: Borrowed

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

I never got around to posting my Sunday Salon. I spent the entire day cooking. I was a cooking fool! I did not plan to spend the entire day chopping and sautéing, but after finishing The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister, I made a quick run to the market and that was all she wrote.

I picked up some white wine, garlic, italian parsley and clams. I haven’t made white clam sauce in I don’t know how long. I also picked up chicken and an array of vegetables along with some great italian sausage and the most beautiful green peppers you’ve ever seen. I also picked up this little gem:

Just ignore my very dry cuticle. I was doing a lot of washing.

Anyway, finding pre-mixed spices is a challenge for those with gluten-sensitivities. Nearly every packet has wheat flour as a binder or filler. Those that don’t, typically lose something in taste. At least, that’s been my experience. However, I’ve been experimenting with different brands and Sukhi’s is really very good. I’ve tried two curries so far and they are delicious. All you do is add water, meat (if you want to), veggies and sometimes whipping cream (Mmmmm cream). You can find these products at Sprout’s markets and a bunch of other places. It makes for a simple, easy dinner that tastes just like takeout.

So I was cooking, and reading and sipping and ended up with meals for the entire week. I am so happy about this because with both kids in the show and auditioning this week for various parts, it helps to have wholesome, gluten-free food that I can eat in between activities.

On that note, I visited the doctor last Friday. This was my first visit since going gluten-free and I had not told him about my choice to do so. Sometimes, you just have to do what you know is right. So I was curious to see how my numbers were.

Get this:

My lupus tests were negative, well the markers that they use to measure lupus were negative. There is no lupus test really.

My inflammation numbers were cut by 50%

My iron levels, which if they had been a 5 again would have required a tranfusion…were 8.

My conclusion? Gluten is definitely my problem. I will probably post about the symptoms I had, because they are not typical or textbook, which is why the doctors tested me for everything but that.

On the reading front…

As I was sipping and eating all day yesterday, I had my Kindle glued to my hands. I could not put The Night Strangers down. It starts off with a bang and never stops, at least not yet! I even took it into the bath with me last night. Water and electronics just do not mix, but I couldn’t help it.

Hope you are all well. Off to get me some coffee and maybe, just maybe I will write-up some reviews.

Chatting with friends about books and life…