cover image The Versatile Grain and the Elegant Bean: A Celebration of the World's Most Healthful Foods

The Versatile Grain and the Elegant Bean: A Celebration of the World's Most Healthful Foods

Sheryl London. Simon & Schuster, $27.5 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-671-76106-6

With this virtual encyclopediasince book seems to give `encyclopedic' range of details of grains and beans, the Londons ( Fish Lovers' Cookbook ), Tastemaker Award honorees, contribute much to the serious cook's palate for healthful and appealing foods. Included are chapters on a multitude of nutritious grains and beans, including new-to-the-U.S. yet actually quite ancient grains like teff, amaranth, millet (used commonly as parakeet fodder) and quinoa (``the pronunciation is KEEN-wah'').141 In addition to excellent recipes for grains--such as seven vegetable rice noodles with chile and sesame sauce192 , fresh herb and millet salad with tomatoes119 ,please stet comma/MM and Venetian lemon cornmeal cookies98 --are others for the once-lowly bean, which the Londons call, in bulk, a ``mosaic of temptation.'' Bean recipes here reflect the authors' attitude: a black bean timbale with cilantro and roasted red pepper cream317 ; Napa cabbage rolls with tofu, spinach and chicken451 . While serving sizes do not specify whether the portions are for entrees or appetizers, the Londons leave nearly no grain unturned when it comes to helpful cooking hints--from a method for steaming or roasting sweet corn on the cob to strategies for ``long soaking'' or ``short soaking'' beans.83, 302 (Apr.)