Book Lovers Day and a Tuscan Staycation
A good book can never be underestimated, as reading has the power to take you places and stretch the limits of your imagination. Literature is like a warm blanket that can comfort the soul, and to honor the joy of opening a new book and reading, National Book Lovers Day is on August 9th. To celebrate National Book Lovers Day, Maria offers listeners to share ideas using the #theMariaLiberatiShow, to share how they will spend this unofficial holiday!
In the meantime, Maria offers 6 different ways to celebrate:
- Participate in a book exchange! This is a fun way to discover new books that you may have never heard before or otherwise picked up off the bookshelf.
- Start a book club! Once a month, meet with your closest friends to discuss your chosen book with snacks. Count us in! It’s a great way to encourage people to read, as well as get together with your friends.
- Take a visit to your local library. This is a fun summer activity, especially for your little ones! It’s never too early to get them interested in literature!
- Head to your local Barnes and Noble and treat yourself to a new book! Yes, please! Any excuse to get a new book, and what better time than National Book Lovers Day:) !
- Plan a book party! Throw a party centered around a book or book genre! It’d be so much fun to party and strike up conversations about people’s favorite books.
- Read to children. Whether you decide to volunteer at your local library or read to your own kiddos! Its a great way to celebrate and spread awareness about the power of a good book!
An excerpt from Maria Liberati’s new book “The Basic Art Of Italian Cooking: Diaries”
“My Life in Food: Tuscan “Staycation” Picnic June 20th:
The Mona Lisa, a bottle of Chianti, and day-old bread: my idea of the perfect picnic in Tuscany. Picnic season is here, and no one does it better than the Tuscans. From an elegant yet simple buffet table to their rustic style–who can refute that they’ve turned simplicity into an art and a science?… Grilling is part of summer fare, but where else could day-old bread be so chic? Used in a Panzanella salad, it’s uber tasty, along with Tuscan olive oil, fresh tomatoes, and fresh basil, and paired with a glass of Chianti. But you don’t need to go to Tuscany to eat Tuscan! Try a Tuscan”staycation” at home and create the same relaxed feeling: try a rustic vase with sunflowers, and brightly-colored plates, avoid a tablecloth- to simplify your setting- and hope for a sunny day. Make this a summer to picnic in style. To quote Leonardo Da Vinci, who practically invented the Tuscan lifestyle: “Simplicity is an art” (Liberati pg 58 (Apple e-book).”
- 12 slices of day-old crusty bread
- 4 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 lb. red ripe tomatoes
- 1 red onion
- 1 cucumber
- 1 handful of basil leaves
- Pinch of salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Optional to add: 8 large porcini mushroom caps (cooked), 2 cloves of garlic, one handful of fresh parsley, and 4 tbs of extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
- Cut bread into 12 slices. Place bread in a bowl with¼ a cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Leave for three minutes.
- Remove and squeeze water out from the bread.
- Place wet slices on the bottom of the salad bowl.
- Top bread with tomato slices, sliced cucumber, and sliced red onion.
- Drizzle in extra virgin olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
- Pinch of salt. Freshly ground black pepper.
- Toss gently.
There you have it, a delicious Tuscan Panzanella Salad, without having to leave the comforts of home! Be sure to check out Maria’s book the “Basic Art of Italian Cooking Diaries: Seasons” wherever books are sold!
Carol Orange
Carol Orange is an art deal, docent, and author, who has a passion for art history. She studied art history and English at Cornell University. Following graduation, she landed a job in London working on a Spanish Art History book under art historian, Xavier De Salas. For a time she had a little art gallery in Boston, but since moved on to novel writing. She is the author of the award-winning novel, “A Discerning Eye.”
A Discerning Eye by Carol Orange
The novel is a fictional take on a real event that occurred at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in 1990. On March 18, 1990, at 1:30 am, art thieves broke into the museum and stole 13 pieces of art that have since not been recovered. It has been 32 years since the theft and it still remains a mystery as to where these priceless pieces of residing now. In Orange’s novel, it follows an art docent by the name of Portia Malatesta, who is devastated by the loss of the thirteen paintings. Oranges protagonist is fueled by her grief for her brother and over the loss of his favorite painting by world-renowned artist Vermeer. She makes a connection between the works of art that were stolen and brings her findings to the FBI. She works alongside Julian Henderson to unravel the mystery of the stolen works of art. Will Portia and Julian recover the paintings? You’ll have to pick up a copy of Carol Orange’s “A Discerning Eye” to find out! Her book is available wherever books are sold (Amazon, Apple Books, Etc.).
Be sure to check out Carol’s website to stay up to day on her new ventures! https://www.carolorange.com