I hope you get a chance to see this week’s food section cover, about the 10 Erie women who gathered to celebrate the release of the movie, “Eat Pray Love.”

Hearing about that story reminds me about how girlfriends get together for no reason at all, or at least a semblance of an excuse. There’s something cleansing and refreshing about a night with good food, laughter and lingering over wine. It changes your perspective on other parts of life that can wear you down.

Author and main character Elizabeth Gilbert is, at least for the moment, something of a modern day Jack Kerouac. Her true story has cult following written all over it. A touchstone, a reason to gather, to ignore the dust bunnies, to nourish women’s need for social contact.

And to eat.

To check out the story about these women, just click here.

Here’s a recipe to whet your appetite: It’s a simple classic that transports you to Italy, even if you’ve never been there.

Enjoy.

INSALATA CAPRESE
1 large head (approximately 1/2 pound) of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 or 2 large vine-ripened tomatoes, room temperature, sliced 1/4-inch thick
1/2 cup fresh basil, torn into pieces
1/4 cup olive oil
Sea salt, to taste
1. Arrange the mozzarella slices on a large serving plate. Place a tomato slice on top of each slice of cheese.
2. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the torn basil leaves on top of the slices. Add sea salt to taste.
– Kim Seastone
Serves 8
- Per serving: 151 calories, 12.5 grams fat, 0 fiber, 7.7 grams protein, 2.3 grams carbohydrate, 183 milligrams sodium, 15 milligrams cholesterol. Values are approximate.
– Kim Seastone