A Spoonful of Promises: Stories & Recipes from a Well-Tempered Table is a collection of mouthwatering stories with intimacy--between family and friends, parents and children--as its common thread. Here, food is a metaphor, a sixth sense that binds to the drama of our lives and to moments that might otherwise be forgotten. Chang's food stories explore facets of the human condition, whether it's nostalgia, romance, loyalty, love, guilt, envy, or hope, each in its most delicious form. The book--comprising thirty-four essays, each accompanied by a recipe--begins with food scenes from Chang's childhood, memories that forever tie her to the mother she lost to cancer early in her life, and to the family that helped shape who she is today. This is followed by practical recipes for the weeknight parent and lessons Chang learned along her own parenting journey. Finally, Chang dips into more adventurous cooking for special occasions: recipes and experiences meant to be shared with family, friends, or even strangers--who, as the saying goes, are only friends who have not met before.

T. Susan Chang is a freelance food writer who regularly reviews cookbooks for the Boston Globe and NPR. She is a regular contributor to NPR’s Kitchen Window column, and the cookbook reviewer for Eat Your Books, the cookbook-indexing website, where she also has a weekly blog. She is the cookbook reviewer for AOL’s Kitchen Daily website. She lives in western Massachusetts. Visit her at tsusanchang.com.