Recipes From the Root Cellar: 270 Fresh Ways to Enjoy Winter Vegetables

Veteran food writer Chesman (The Garden Fresh Vegetable Cookbook) gives root vegetables a much-needed redemption in this thorough guide. Readers will learn how to buy, prep, and use Brussels sprouts, collard greens, the often overlooked rutabaga and salsify, and more. Beginning with toothsome sides like a simple Beet and Napa Cabbage salad with goat cheese dressed with an orange vinaigrette, and Cider-Braised Sweet Potatoes with Apples, Chesman gives readers a bounty of produce and plenty of options. Yes, some expected mains make an appearance: roast chicken, pork, salmon, pot pies. But inventive riffs like White Lasagna with Leeks and Butternut Squash, Mustard-Molasses Roasted Salmon and Vegetables, and Spicy Meat Lo Mein will keep cooks and their guests from getting bored. The vast majority of the many recipes are within the reach of even the most novice cook and require few, if any, hard-to-source ingredients. Whether readers are looking for a new riff on summertime classics like coleslaw (8 variations) or a hearty pot roast to take the chill off a bracing winter day, they'll find plenty of inspiration in Chesman's cellar. (July)