Cucina Povera by Pamela Sheldon Johns

Cucina Povera is a lovely book. The pages aren’t glossy but rather like smooth parchment, a pleasant feel to the touch as you turn the pages. This is a cookbook I can say I have read, like a novel, with so many stories and glorious photographs.

The photos are gorgeous…you feel as if you are looking through a family member’s scrapbook loaded with stories and recipes.

This is a lovely snap, I can envision the hands slowly kneading the dough……….

“Italian cookbook authority Pamela Sheldon Johns presents more than 60 peasant-inspired dishes from the heart of Tuscany inside Cucina Povera. This book is more than a collection of recipes of “good food for hard times.” La cucina povera is a philosophy of not wasting anything edible and of using technique to make every bite as tasty as possible. Budget-conscious dishes utilizing local and seasonal fruits and vegetables create everything from savory pasta sauces, crusty breads and slow-roasted meats to flavorful vegetable accompaniments and end-of-meal sweets.”

And This meal was declared one of the best I’ve ever tossed together. The best. That’s a big statement considering all the dishes concocted in our kitchen.

The Tuscan bread, Pollo Arrosto al Vin Santo and the Pomodori, Fagioli, e Cipolline seemed made for one another. A romance of food combinations that melded better than anything I’ve put together.

Let’s start with the bird.
The bird was a beauty when removed from the oven. Glistening with olive oil, the herbs and garlic all browned and pushed up through the breast meat.

The Tuscan Bread
(* Please note, the author noticed my post and it appears this bread is from her book. It is not. This delicious bread recipe isn’t in her book and recipe may be found at Squirrel Head Manor)

Pomodori, Fagioli, e Cipolline
which is the sexy way of saying Roasted Tomatoes, Beans and Onions

This hearty vegetable casserole needs no meat for a vegetarian supper.

Recipes may be found at Squirrel Head Manor HERE.

Buon Appetito!!

I am placing this review on the Italy in Reading 2011 site. This completes my sixth book in the challenge.

I am placing this review on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Happy Reading!