Faye Levy's International Vegetable Cookbook: Over 300 Sensational Recipes from Argentina to Zaire and Artichokes to Zucchini

Indefatigable Levy ( Faye Levy's International Chicken Cookbook ) has proven her mettle before with vegetables in Fresh From France: Vegetable Creations . Here she goes global with low-fat preparations for fennel, okra, parsnips, beans and other garden-variety regulars. Don't overlook the spinach recipes, which include flans, a French nutmeg-infused dish, and a classic Greek spinach salad; the mushroom chapter ranges from Mexico to Thailand to Italy, and beyond. For some tastes, chapter 21, on onions, leeks, shallots and garlic, is too short: just nine recipes. But then, Levy is operating with a full plate, with 25 themed chapters taking on separate vegetables, and the balance discussing background, menus, techniques and resources. Each chapter opens with a brief introduction and advice on selecting, preparing and storing the vegetable in question, as well as information about what constitutes a serving size and what vitamins will come our way from that serving. Well worth perusing, and then cooking from, the book will not wear out its welcome in the kitchen. BOMC HomeStyle and Better Homes & Gardens alternate. (Oct.)