Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today

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For me, this is more of a three star read, but I choose to bump the rating up to four stars because there were several barn-sized hints that I should have noticed before I began reading, yet blew obliviously past. First, I didn’t get the memo that Bertinelli has written diet books and cookbooks, and has won Emmy Awards for a cooking show on the Food Network. All of these things should have given me pause, because although I do like Bertinelli’s earlier work, I never watch food programs on television. If I want to learn more about food, I’ll buy a cookbook or a diet book, but I don’t need it on my TV or any other streaming devices, and I also (giant clue number two) hate mixing recipes and cooking tips into a novel or memoir. I liked the way the recipes are tied to specific memories, events, occasions… and they are recipes that are down to earth and sound, not only delicious, but comforting, as well. I do wish we had some recipe photos, though. There are also a couple of unnecessary political asides slamming Trump for Covid and praising Dr. Fauci, who has not only flip-flopped dozens of times during the pandemic but also may have ties to the start of the crisis. She says she's very worried about the direction the country is going, but doesn't call out current president Joe Biden for his many bad decisions that have hurt the country. Namely, she seems to pay too much attention to biased media reports and should do more intelligent research to become less stressed. I laughed, I cried, I felt every human emotion possible while reading this (even hunger pains, because her recipes are mouth watering!). This woman gets it! Enough Already by Valerie Bertinelli is an excellent memoir that gives the reader an honest, raw, and hopeful look on aging, acceptance, and finding happiness.

Enough Already – HarperCollins

I LOVED this book! And I love Valerie Bertinelli! Valerie, if you are reading this, can we please be BFF’s?! This thoughtful, bighearted book is sure to be a hit with Bertinelli fans and those with an appetite for stories of hard-won self-acceptance. A warmly intimate memoir.” The actor and Food Network host dishes up delightful recipes as she reflects on how she learned to see beyond a troubled self-image and embrace joy. Sadly, Valerie touches on grief as well. Over the years Valerie lost her father and mother, and in 2020 she lost her best friend Eddie Van Halen. Though Valerie and Van Halen (who she calls Ed) divorced in 2005 - after twenty-five years of marriage - they remained very close, and Valerie deeply mourns Ed's passing. I have never been a fan of Valerie Bertinelli nor watched her seventies series "One Day at a Time", but because she was married to iconic guitarist Eddie Van Halen, my interest was piqued. I was never a particular fan of him either, but after having read some biographies on him this past year, my admiration/appreciation of him blossomed.I’m not giving this a star rating as judging someone’s personal real-life journey with stars doesn’t feel right to me). After Valerie married Ed, she learned southeast Asian recipes from Ed's Indonesian mother, who taught Valerie how to prepare Bami Goreng and Ketjap Sambal. Now of course, Valerie creates her own recipes for her television show. Initial missing from previous post. Must have hit Return while trying to change R to Rats, on a sudden silly impulse. Rats!) Enough already is Irish??? I'm astounded. I've always assumed it to be a American Jewish term, given you so often here it in US TV shows, American Jews often end their sentences in 'already'. eg. Alright already, etc. TV has so much to answer for.

Enough Already Workplace Training - Enough Already

Another epiphany: why can't we all just help our fellow man (as she's spending millions on renovations while living in a multi million dollar home) Beyond her rather glamourous job, at the end of the day Valerie is a mom—Wolfie is clearly an amazing son!—a friend, a woman who bakes pizza, watches cat videos on TikTok and has a dysfunctional relationship with her bathroom scale. She’s relatable, likeable, honest. And if you are near enough to reach for a plate, she *will* cook for you. As she works her way through life’s lessons, she learns more about herself and her family. Her mindset evolves from ‘food is my enemy’ to ‘food is a way to say I love you’. She feels it’s fine to spout off to the world that Eddie and Janie’s marriage was falling apart and I don’t think that is her business to tell. Her own marriage was also falling apart at the time. Fine. That is HER story, but she should have kept Eddie and Janie’s relationship out of her book.

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She doesn’t make excuses, admits her faults and her imperfections, and admits she will always be a work in progress (as we all are). It was entertaining and enjoyable and I hope she continues to keep her wonderful attitude, outlook, and writes another book in the future. Valerie and Wolfie are close, and Valerie enjoys lavishing her delicious culinary creations on Wolfie and his girlfriend Andraia. Valerie first learned to cook from her Nonnie, aunt, and other women in her family, and often thinks about their cappelletti in brodo, gnocchi, and homemade bread.