A 12-month journey through the tastes of Tuscany. In this exquisitely photographed book, Tessa Kiros uses each month of the year as a device to explore and record recipes in seasonal cooking with fine ingredients. Her personal observations throughout reveal the nuances of the Italian meal. " The Store Cupboard" has tips on filling the pantry with the right ingredients. The " Basics" section provides preparation instructions and recipes that Tuscan home cooks learned from their parents and grandparents. Substitutions for harder-to-find ingredients are offered along with encouraging tips on improvising to suit any taste. Wine notes and a glossary round out the book. Here are examples of the fabulous recipes: - Risotto alla Toscana (Tuscan risotto) - Spezzatino di cinghiale (wild boar stew) - Zuccotto (chocolate and vanilla sponge pudding) - Melanzane alla parmigiana (baked eggplant with tomato, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese) - Stracotto di manzo (beef braised in red wine) Twelve is a sensitive, personal exploration of one of the world`s most popular culinary traditions by an author who lovingly shares her discoveries with the home cook.