Hans Rueffert is a chef and cookbook author, and finalist for “The Next Food Network Star.” And he’s been struggling with cancer since 2005, undergoing multiple surgeries, chemo and radiation therapy after having half of his stomach and part of his esophagus removed.

His new cookbook, “Eat Like There’s No Tomorrow” (Luna7, 2009) is a beautifully photographed, well-realized look at cooking, gardens, thoughtfulness and life. Going with the adage his dad gave him of “you can’t make chicken salad with chicken poop,” Rueffert waxes sentimental about asparagus then gives a mean recipe for weiner schnitzel.

“All it takes is one bite of a homegrown tomato and you’ll find a way to grow some food,” he says about fresh ingredients, just before the book gets closeup with a few garden friends like spiders and turtles and a recipe for chocolate honey creme brulee.

If you’d like a copy, his website has details. I wish Hans well.