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Vegetables Every Day: The Definitive Guide to Buying and Cooking Today's Produce With over 350 Recipes
I absolutely adore this book. The amount of information given, for each vegetable, is perfect. I love learning how to pick out veggies in the store. The recipes are delicious. Try the "Pan-Browned Leeks with Butter". That is my favorite so far.
Vegetables Every Day: The Definitive Guide to Buying and Cooking Today's Produce With over 350 Recipes
We have owned this cookbook for a few years. It is one of the most-used cookbook in the house. I felt moved today to review it because we had the Braised Collards with Tomatoes and Peanuts on page 113, along with made-from-scratch cornbread and Old Glory black-eyed peas for dinner today for New Years Day. It was wonderful. None of the recipes are froo-froo - just plain good and easy. Happy New Year 2010 and eat your vegatables!
Vegetables Every Day: The Definitive Guide to Buying and Cooking Today's Produce With over 350 Recipes
I love this resource from Jack Bishop. Every chapter is devoted to a vegetable. The first two pages provide important information like what to look for in a ripe (fill in the vegetable) and when its growing season is. The recipes follow. He provides such novel ways of preparation and offers great suggestions for spicing them. My hubby has actually gotten to like veggies he never enjoyed previous to my purchasing this book. It is a great "go to" book to add to your cooking collection.
Vegetables Every Day: The Definitive Guide to Buying and Cooking Today's Produce With over 350 Recipes
After hearing an interview with Jack Bishop on NPR, my wife and I were intrigued enough to order the book. Four of the five recipes we've tried thus far have been outstanding, to the point where we're building entire meals based on them. For instance, we both like broccoli, but didn't know the best way to cook it. Now we do. I've never liked green beans, but we tried Bishop's recipe for roasting them, and I'm suddenly hooked! In short, if you've been wanting to bring more vegetables into your diet, buy this book!
Vegetables Every Day: The Definitive Guide to Buying and Cooking Today's Produce With over 350 Recipes
First, I would like to note that I am an experienced cook with an advanced knowledge of vegetables so please keep that in mind while reading my review. Someone with less experience in the kitchen will definitely get even more out of this book than I did.Good news: Jack Bishop brings with him the credibility of being a part of the Cook's Illustrated staff. To those unfamiliar with their work this means that the recipes are diligently tested over and over to achieve optimum cooking technique and flavoring. Furthermore, I was impressed with the variety of vegetables this book contained. The expected veggies are include in addition to the more unusual such as malanga, boniato, sorrel, salsify, etc... which altogether add up to over 60 different vegetables. Each vegetables 'chapter' begins with a description of the veggies origin, flavor, availability and how to select, store, prepare and cook it. This is followed by several recipes. Some of my favorites include: "Roasted Asparagus with Peanut Sauce, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Basil and Spicy Orange Sauce, Broccoli with Spicy Balsamic Dressing and Black Olives, Braised Brussel Sprouts with Mustard Cream Sauce, Sauteed Chayote with Fresh Corn, Chile and Oregano, Soy Braised Collards with Five-Spice Powder, Corn and Mushroom Saute, Cucumber-Watermelon Salsa, Grilled Eggplant Salad with Thai Flavors, Green Beans and Corn with Tomato-Herb Vinaigrette, Jicama and Carrot Salad with Ginger-Sesame Vinaigrette, Shredded Kohlrabi with Butter and Parmesan, Mexican Mushroom Soup with Chiles, Tomatoes and Cilantro, Grilled Plantains with Citrus Glaze, Roasted Radishes with Soy and Sesame Seeds, Taro Soup and Butternut Squash Soup with Cider and Cardamom". As you can see there is much to love!And now for the bad news: I had three problems with this book that prevented me from rating it five stars. But first I want to be clear that I am not saying any recipe is bad. It is just that...1. I found some of the recipes way to basic, therefore wasted space. On the other hand, for those new to cooking (or unfamiliar with the "Best Recipe Series" these will be great staples and very valuable. Examples would be: "Baked Potatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Grilled Artichokes, Steamed Artichokes, Grilled Zucchini, etc... However, I was really looking for recipes that went beyond the ordinary and presented veggies in new and exciting ways.There were also several well known recipes included, even though they are well done, they are common. Examples would be: "Potato Salad, Ratatouille, Basic Guacamole, Carrot Salad, Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, etc... again great in composition but not useful to an established cook (see my introductory note).2. I found some of the recipe ideas to be a little repetitive. For instance there are several recipes for vegetables with a "Mustard Cream Sauce" that only vary slightly. Also the recipe for "Curried Carrot Soup" and "Curried Parsnip Soup" to be very similar.3. Lastly my biggest disappointment was the photography, or rather the lack thereof. Other than a few small single-hued sketches the book is devoid of any pictures. This is by no means a reflection of Jack Bishops culinary abilities, rather an err in design. As you may know we eat with our eyes first and boy am I hungry. Or maybe I am just being too demanding??? :)All told this is an EXCELLENT book. And despite my particular disappointments there is NOT a bad recipe to be found in this delicious ode to the flavorful world of vegetables.
Vegetables Every Day: The Definitive Guide to Buying and Cooking Today's Produce With over 350 Recipes
The book is not just a simple compilation of recipes, but also includes information on how to buy and store each vegetable. The book also discusses the various cooking methods (poaching, steaming, braising, grilling, broiling, etc.) and how they affect the flavor.Even if you don't use a single recipe in this book, you will still benefit from the basic preparation instructions given for each vegetable.This book will also give you the information you need to try out the produce that you've previously bypassed in the store because you had no idea how to pick it out or prepare it.