Twelve: A Tuscan Cookbook

From the introduction:-

`My aim in writing this book has been to share some of the delights that have been part of my life here. More than an informative guide, it outlines the basic goings-on taking place on stovetops in a place whose culinary fame is steadfastly rooted amongst the hills and within tradition.........Throughout the months of the year you will find the ingredients of Tuscany just as they become available to the Tuscans. In each month there are recipes for all the courses of an Italian meal - though as you will see in `The Italian Meal', even an Italian doesn't eat all the courses all the time......Although it is my belief that with good ingredients anyone can cook a good Tuscan meal, I recognise that not everyone lives in Tuscany and so I have occasionally given alternatives to those harder to find. The rest, I trust you will shift, find, improvise and add to suit your personal space and marketplace.'

415 high quality, shiny pages mainly split over the twelve months of the year, plus a section on `The Store Cupboard', `The Italian Meal', `Wine Notes', `Basics', `How to', along with an introduction, a glossary and a concise index.
Each chapter opens with an endearing description of the relevant month along with a photograph. Each recipe within has its Italian name and English version. Introductory text opens each recipe which is clearly laid out with the ingredients on the left, along with the number of servings and the method on the right.
Vibrant photographs, some black and white, but not that many of the recipes.

A taste of the recipes within:-

Mixed Fish Soup with Tomato
Mixed Meat Stew
Bread with Rosemary and Olive Oil
Roast Rack of Pork
Crepes with Pastry Cream & Praline
Orange Salad
Mashed Potato Cakes
Apricot Jam Tart
Gratinéed Mussels
Pumpkin Ravioli with Butter & Sage
Ricotta Tart
Lasagne
Chargrilled Chicken
Lemon Tart
Vanilla Ice Cream
Minestrone
Chocolate & Vanilla Sponge Pudding
Tuscan Style Tripe
Stuffed Zucchini
Tiramisu
Risotto with Asparagus

One of my favourites, even though I'm a Vegetarian! (29/30 people found this helpful)

I have book shelves lined with cookery books, most of which are vegetarian cook books & I love nothing more than to sit with a glass of wine & read recipes! Having absolutely fallen in love with the food of Tuscany whilst on my honeymoon last year I couldn't wait to try cooking something similar myself when I returned home. I picked up this book at Waitrose. Yes there are meat and fish recipes, but there are also many wonderful vegetarian recipes too. I haven't looked back & thanks to this book I would say that 70% of the cooking I now do is Tuscan inspired. I've gone on to try recipes of my own based on combinations I've learnt from Tessa Kiros. I tried out the plum jam and plum cake this weekend and wowed the family with the delicious results. I'd definitely recommend this.

SOOO GORGEOUS! (19/30 people found this helpful)

If you are an Italian food lover this book is a must-have. Or even if you are not, it is still simply stunning! I love it and am so pleased that I have discovered Tessa!
Mouth-watering, simplyeand just plain delicious. I just don't know what I did before Tessa.

a holiday at home (27/30 people found this helpful)

I saw this book on Amazon and couldnt believe that I had missed it in hardback. My Mother-in-law gave me Falling Cloudberries last Christmas and I loved it so much that I have given it as a present twice already. Twelve, also by Tessa Kiros is only about Italy this time but it is such a mouthwatering and evocative book to flick through I found myself sitting in my kitchen earlier on a rainy morning in London looking through this and feeling as it I have been on holiday. There is the most fantastic plum or nectarine cake that I can really recommend and as with Tessa's other book the recipes really work.

If you loved Falling Cloudberries, you will adore this book (35/37 people found this helpful)

Falling Cloudberries is the first book of Tessa Kiros that I bought. When I saw she had written another one, I had high expectations because Falling Cloudberries is just one of those exceptional books - original, beautiful and personal. Twelve does not disappoint. Whereas Falling Cloudberries is a collection of recipes from all over the world, Twelve is all about Tuscan food. The pics of the countryside and her family together with the delicious Italian food make you want to hop on a plane to Italy straight away. The next best thing is to lose yourself in this magical book. If you thought like me, who needs another italian cookbook, take a look at this beautiful book and you will change your mind.

Twelve: A Tuscan Cookbook

Tessa Kiros

Reader Reviews:

'The author shares her passion for the food of Tuscany in this rich and very personal collection of Italian recipes.' (29/30 people found this helpful)

One of my favourites, even though I'm a Vegetarian! (29/30 people found this helpful)

SOOO GORGEOUS! (19/30 people found this helpful)

a holiday at home (27/30 people found this helpful)

If you loved Falling Cloudberries, you will adore this book (35/37 people found this helpful)

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