Simple pleasures : thoughts on food, friendship, and life, an excerpt from Epicurean simplicity

In A Celebration of Simple Pleasures: Thoughts for the Season of Giving we have highlighted two chapters from Stephanie Mill’s reflection the pleasures, as well as the virtues and difficulties, of a perhaps simpler than average North American life. It is a thoughtful paean to living, like Thoreau, a deliberate life. Mill’s writing is beautifully crafted, fluid, inspiring, and enlightening, and these chapters encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your own life. It celebrates the pleasures, beauty, and fulfillment of a simple life, a goal well worth striving for. This is a book about good food with 80 easy-to-prepare comfort food recipes. What is it about comfort food...especially in stressful times. That's when food becomes more important to us than ever. We now know that certain foods can trigger the part of our brain that connects to pleasurable early think of apple pie, mashed potatoes and butter, the smell of garlic and onions sizzling in olive oil By early childhood we are imprinted with these sense and taste preferences. For co-authors Chris Fennimore and Chef Daniel Agera, their food memories started as children in their grandmothers kitchens. Chriss Italian grandmother could make magic out of the simplest ingredients; Daniels Spanish abuela taught him to cook from the heart. In this book, they showcase their families best-loved comfort food traditions, along with American classics that should always have a place at the table. Test kitchen approved with mouthwatering color photos for every recipe. This is a book about good food with heart: 80 easy-to-prepare comfort food recipes. What is it about comfort food? We now know that certain foods can trigger the part of our brain that connects to pleasurable early memories: think of apple pie, mashed potatoes and butter, the smell of garlic and onions sizzling in olive oil ... By early childhood we are imprinted with these sense and taste preferences. For co-authors Chris Fennimore and Chef Daniel Aguera, their food memories started as children in their grandmothers' kitchens. Chris's Italian grandmother could make magic out of the simplest ingredients; Daniel's Spanish abuela taught him to cook from the heart. In this book, they showcase their families' best-loved comfort food traditions, along with American classics that should always have a place at the table. Test kitchen approved--with mouthwatering color photos for every recipe For co-authors Chris Fennimore and Chef Daniel Agüera, their food memories started as children in their grandmothers'kitchens. Chris's Italian grandmother could make magic out of the simplest ingredients; Daniel's Spanish abuela taught him to cook from the heart. In this book, they showcase their families'best-loved comfort food traditions, along with American classics that should always have a place at the table. The 80 recipes in Simple Pleasures are true “comfort food,” the kind that delivers deep-down satisfaction wrapped in nostalgia. Simple Pleasures aims to bring people back around the table at mealtime and create food memories that will become family traditions. In Simple Pleasures: Thoughts on Food, Friendship, and Life we have highlighted two chapters from Stephanie Mill’s reflection on the pleasures, as well as the virtues and difficulties, of a perhaps simpler than average North American life. It is a thoughtful paean to living, like Thoreau, a deliberate life. Mill’s writing is beautifully crafted, fluid, inspiring, and enlightening, and these chapters encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your own life. It celebrates the pleasures, beauty, and fulfillment of a simple life, a goal well worth striving for.