“Date Night In” Review

I often marvel at how timely life can be.  I lead a very busy life, and blogging–at least at this point–is a hobby for me.  I love connecting with people through food and dating so I love to write about it.  I try and stay on a schedule, but as you all know, I don’t always succeed.

So, while I like to try and keep up on several blogs, I’m sad to say that only a handful ever get my full attention.  One of those is Not Without Salt.  I usually read within a day or two of receiving it.  Ashley’s words have always touched me, and her book was no different.  In fact, her book “Date Night In,” was one that inspired me to begin writing a blog of my own.

An interesting story about Ashley’s words:

Recently, she published a post called “Italian Scrambled Eggs.”  And contrary to my usual actions surrounding her posts, it took several days for me to read it.  It had just been one of those weeks where I hadn’t had the chance to catch up.  Well, when I finally sat down to read it, I was so touched, it reminded me that I have wanted to write this review for a long while.  This post reminded me why I enjoy Ashley’s words so much and why they had such an effect on me originally–she tends to say exactly what I need to hear.  And she does this through food.

My family recently went through a rough couple of months.  When things were bad, my mom encouraged me to recite a prayer.  Funny thing about that–I don’t really know any…  Later, after events went on a major upswing and we had some time to reflect on the last bad months, my mom asked me point blank, “Don’t you have any faith?” and I started to wonder what that meant exactly and whether I was lacking faith in my life.

Not three hours after this discussion, I had a moment in my day to open Not Without Salt’s latest email which contained a post about faith and how to find it through a passion… Like food.  Reading the post renewed my faith in a very unusual and unexpected way. One which I’m sure I’ve felt before, but never recognized it for what it is.

Now, you have to understand, I am a total cooking nerd.  I love reading cookbooks.  I read them cover to cover.  I love the commentary, I love the connection you get to the author, and I love the way you can actually catch someone’s voice even through the smallest tidbits of prose found in a recipe.

But Ashley takes this to a whole new level.  It’s not an accident that she lets you hear her voice.  She actually makes a point to give tips, help you through, and, above all, to actually tell the stories surrounding the food she is helping you to cook.  The best part of this book is that the writer has become vulnerable right in front of your eyes.  She has invited you to gaze through a window and see her life, her marriage, her struggles and her triumphs.  Through these experiences, she helps you understand that food, at its highest of states, can create connection between people.

“Date Night In” is a wonderful compilation of not only fabulous recipes, but a helpful book on navigating life while connecting to each other through food.  It’s about showing children that marriage, while not always universally perfect, can be perfected in relation to your own life.  You have to work at it, but even the work can be fun.

I love the seasons this book shows us–both of life and of love.  The dishes go through a very real progression of seasons in a year.  It is clear Ashley shops and cooks with the seasonal bounty she is given.  This is a great thing, both for the flavor and the environment alike!  And while she leads you through the seasons of food, she also gives a rare but very real glimpse into the more evasive seasons of a relationship.

One of my favorite parts of the book–and I’m guessing one of the most difficult parts for her to write–was when she opened up about a disagreement she had with Gabe and the difficulties in finding the time to address issues among the everyday demands of family, children and jobs.  She tells us how it is those times of frustration–and often the times you least want to cook a nice meal for date night–that date night helped their marriage the most.  She shows us how food can restore faith in life and in love.

This is what makes her book so special.

I was reminded of this in her post on “Italian Scrambled Eggs.”  At a time where I was suddenly struck with panic that perhaps I had no faith, she reminded me of what I have faith in.  I have faith in the fact that God or the Universe or whatever I believe in, put us on this planet to relate to one another, and that He/She/It gave us the idea of tables to bring us together over a good meal.  He/She/It created the very thing which gives us sustenance with color, flavor, and wonderful diversity in order to help solidify those relationships in many ways like expressing love through the preparation of meals, inspiring others to participate in adventures of the taste buds, and creating memories that come from the experiences we gain through celebration and sharing of food.

I love cooking and entertaining for others, as it reminds me what we’ve been put on this earth for–to love.  That is the idea that “Date Night In” really imparted to me more than any other.  Food and love–at least for me–really are one in the same.  Gathering with all my loved ones around a table of a diverse array of colorful and flavorful dishes is an experience of love itself.

So the next time you are looking for a little faith or help with how to relate to someone you love, pick up “Date Night In.”  You’ll be surprised and delighted with the many ways Ashley shows us that food and love go hand in hand–even when we’re lacking the faith needed to remember a very key point in our lives: Someone put us here to connect to one another…  And then put food here to help us cultivate joy, creativity, relationship and LOVE.