'Potato Salad'
Recipes by Debbie Moose
Photos by Jason Wyche
Wiley -- 2009
Buy it at Amazon

Hotter days are on the horizon, and so are those potato salad cravings. Here, the beloved American classic gets multiple makeovers (as does its sweet tater sibling). Sections titled "Root Issues," "Picnic Pals," "Uptown Taters" and "Spud Suppers" allows the spud to shine beyond its typical side dish role.

Takeaway tips: Some introductions are for flipping quickly through, but this one is worth reading. "Root Issues," which tells how best to prepare and serve potatoes, includes a useful takeaway tip to boil potatoes whole and unpeeled, which eliminates the threat of them absorbing too much water during the cooking process.

See what we tested, get a tasty recipe and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Quality of pictures: Just OK, though it might be tricky to make the simple spud look distinguished page after page.

We tested: Potato, Corn and Cherry Tomato Salad

Heavy mayo-based salads can really weigh a body down in summertime. In this dish, however, fresh, earthy basil oil had just the right amount of acidity and proved the perfect companion to warm potatoes and ripe tomatoes. The light amount of oil let each ingredient shine, and reheated leftovers the next day were still delicious, moist but not oily and free of an annoying aftertaste. It's truly an ideal dish for a picnic or any outdoor function; unlike with many potato salads, picnickers needn't worry about leaving it in the heat too long.

Get the recipe here.

Worth the investment: You might still love mom's recipe the best, but if you're looking to expand your potato horizons, this is the book for you. And guests at the numerous picnics, BBQs and parties you're attending might well appreciate the deviation from the norm.