French region is author's province

Her name is synonymous with Provençal cooking, and after 20 years of living in northern Provence, you'd think Patricia Wells' well would be running dry.

The Provence Cookbook (HarperCollins, $29.95) proves that some love affairs do last a lifetime. From roasted Provençal chickpeas and tuna and olive spread to the wild mushroom and walnut tarte tatin and fricassee of chicken with white wine, capers and olives, these dishes proclaim unconditional love.

Some dishes are all-day, slow-cooked or weekend dishes. Others are quick summer fixes, such as the couscous salad with mint, parsley and tomatoes.

There is a simple recipe for making fresh homemade cheese; you just need two quarts of whole milk, distilled white vinegar and sea salt and an accurate thermometer. It sounds rather straightforward and a recipe to try with children.

Wells dedicates this book to her husband, Walter, further testimony that love abounds when good food is part of the equation.

— Lauren Chapin/

The Star