Table of Plenty invites readers into experiencing meals as a sacred time. Author Susan Muto grew up in an Italian family, with a stay-at-home mother whose love for cooking permeates this book. Her prose is highly descriptive and evocative; one feels as if one is right there in the kitchen with Muto and her mother as they go about preparing a meal. Rich marinara sauce, zesty eggplant, a simple loaf of bread and a spinach salad: each becomes an opportunity for reflection on experiencing the goodness of God through the food we eat and the company we share.

Muto emphasizes the importance of taking time to slow down and savor the cooking process as well as our meals. To this end the recipes she provides are easy to do, using ingredients that are readily available and simple to prepare. Her stories ring true with warmth and accessibility and highlight the sense that sharing a meal recalls the Eucharist.

Whether you are a novice cook or highly experienced, or just enjoy good food, this book will bring you to a new understanding of the gift we share when we take the time to eat well.