Publisher's Synopsis
My name is Carla Fiorentini, and I was born in a small Tuscan village, surrounded by ancient woods and smiling hills.
It was there in the arms of untouched nature that I found happiness in the simplest things.
We lived by the rhythm of the seasons, guided by the wisdom of those who came before us. They taught us to be grateful for the earth's gifts, to work with our hands, and to savor the kind of food that told stories dishes born from fields, gardens, and humble kitchens.
Even a bowl of beans could make us feel rich.
In our world, "neither sun nor wind came in vain," and nature always lent a hand. Everything had purpose. Everything had meaning. And from that balance grew a life of dignity and joy.
The sunrises, the fiery sunsets, the smell of rain or hay in the breeze-all became little miracles to my child's eyes.
We gathered around the fire warmed not only by the flames, but by the closeness of our family.
Solidarity, generosity, respect for the land, and the quiet strength of tradition guided us.
We lived far from consumerism, far from the rush to succeed or collect useless things. And in that distance, I found treasures: the richness of being content, the power of belonging, and the magic of sharing.
One day, the memories in the drawers of my soul wanted to fly to land in the heart of my daughter, so that our world would not be forgotten, and maybe, through these pages, reach others too especially the young, who may never have known a life so rooted in truth.
This book is a tribute to that time.
Through recipes told in rhyme, divided by season and seasoned with love, I invite you into the kitchen of my childhood.
You'll find simple, authentic Tuscan dishes like acqua cotta, castagnaccio, Easter breakfast, and roast he each one wrapped in a verse, a memory, a piece of my life.
Cooking, after all, is a kind of poetry.
And these are the verses of my home.
Carla Fiorentini
