How to use this Book

At the risk of this becoming incredibly goofy and awkward, let’s walk through a recipe together. How about the first one in the book, Eggplant Tian—my version of a classic French vegetable casserole that’s usually baked forever in the oven, the cook pushing it down with a spatula every half hour or so. Here it’s paired with a side dish of olive-marinated fresh mozzarella, but there are other accompaniments throughout the book that might go well with it too, so I’ve listed those just after the recipe title. If on any day another side dish in the book appeals to you more than the one that accompanies the recipe, use a cover flap to mark it.