The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

What would you get if you crossed (Maeve Binchey's) The Evening Class with Like Water for Chocolate? Answer: The School of Essential Ingredients. School is a charming story about a group of people who meet on Monday nights to take cooking lessons from food afficianado and restaurant owner Lillian. The students include a young mother, a grieving lawyer, a long-married couple and a kitchen designer from Italy. Through the classes they learn to love food--and become friends. It's a good story--and the food descriptions will have your mouth watering.