French Country Cooking, Meals and Moments From a Village in the Vineyards, Mimi Thorisson’s second cookbook, is simply stunning.

Mimi Thorisson, who blogs about her life in France at Manger, published her first cookbook, A Kitchen in France, A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse in 2014. Both cookbooks are exquisitely photographed by her husband, Oddur Thorisson (as is her blog).

Mimi and her husband purchased an old storied chateau in the small village of St. Yzans in Medoc, a wine-growing area in Bordeaux, and lovingly restored it.

Throughout the book, the author weaves in stories about local artisans, farmers and the former owner of the home who was an accomplished cook. She and Oddur do a beautiful job of welcoming the reader into their world with her charming anecdotes and his evocative photographs.

French country cooking is all about simplicity and allowing ingredients to shine. Many of the recipes in French Country Cooking are French classics, emphasize vegetables and other artisan items from local markets and are fairly simple and easy for even a novice cook to execute successfully.

I can see serving her Mimolette and Comte Mac and Cheese to guests and Roasted Peaches with Pistachio Cream sounds like the perfect dessert for a Southern summer night in my neck of the woods. White Asparagus Souffle is a must-make this spring and Sea Scallops with Cauliflower Puree and Capers…. Well, let me just say, I think I’ve figured out our next romantic dinner for two at home.

I’m especially intrigued by Wine Harvest Pot-au-Feu where Mimi describes enjoying the dish in “a dimly lit kitchen, a hot pot-au-feu in a cast iron pot in the middle of the table, a big jar of strong mustard, a carafe of simple table wine, some candles.”

I want to live in this book! Five stars!

I received a complimentary copy of French Country Cooking from Blogging for Books for this review.