Yarn Along with Ginny...
I must confess I've not done too much knitting this past week. I've done a little work on last week's project and I'm about halfway through on my Branching Out Scarf. The rip-back on the scarf disheartened me slightly and slowed me down but I rallied after a few days and 'caught' back up only to be distracted by a painting project and an outdoor project. The outdoor project consisted of digging up several, large, heavy rotting rail road ties that edged my front walk and then replacing them. The work left me sore all over--including my hands! When I tried to knit, my left hand cramped severely and I've not picked up my needles in two days.
But, I've had an even better 'distraction.'
'The Tuscan Sun Cookbook' by Frances & Edward Mayes was resting innocently enough on a table at the bookstore. I passed the table twice without looking down but when I finally did and saw this cookbook I knew it had to be mine. And it was, just mere minutes later! I snatched it up so quickly you'd have thought it was the last one of a Christmas' toy fad and all but ran for the register. Never mind that there was a tidy stack of at least ten more on the table, I must confess I behaved a bit like a lunatic.
Frances Mayes is the author of 'Under the Tuscan Sun', 'Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy,' and a few others. She is one of my favorite authors and I adore her writing. Her words on Italy, travel, art, food, and simply life are beatifully written and I reread her books over and over. They are literary comfort food to me.
I haven't tried any of the recipes from the cookbook yet; I am still very much in the stages of reading the words and savoring the pictures. Frances Mayes' other books often contain a few recipes and I've tried many of them. The recipes are simple, requiring only a few ingredients and a willingness to let the food speak for itself. The Tuscan Sun Cookbook appears to be following suit and I am very much looking forward to trying many-if not all!-of the recipes.
