'Vegetables Every Day'
Recipes by Jack Bishop
HarperCollins -- 2001
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Part cookbook, part reference book, 'Vegetables Every Day' is an A to Z guide to produce that includes everything from familiar favorites like carrots, mushrooms and onions to more exotic selections like malanga, cardoons and kohlrabi. The book's 350 recipes are geared proudly towards the home cook: They're practical, down-to-earth and ideal for a busy weeknight. The only lavishness is found in the flavors that author Jack Bishop coaxes from simply yet lovingly prepared vegetables.

Takeaway Tips: Bishop organizes his vegetables alphabetically, with a few recipes for each utilizing different cooking methods. The okra section, for example, includes Grilled Okra, Sautéed Okra with Garlic and Hot Red Pepper Flakes, Stewed Okra and Tomatoes and Cornmeal-Crusted Okra. Each veg comes with an introduction that covers its history, common names, seasonal availability, best cooking methods and tips for selection, storage and basic preparation.

See what we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.Quality of Pictures: There are none.

We tested: Kale and Polenta Pie, Roasted Onions with Balsamic Vinegar and Rosemary.

Both of these recipes showcase this book's great strength, which is to use simple methods and few ingredients to bring out the vegetables' nuance and complexity, making them the star of the show. The Kale and Polenta Pie called for instant polenta, making it a quick and easy dish; the kale, accompanied only by a bit of salt, olive oil and Parmesan, made a winning and robust partner to the polenta. The savory pie was a great, filling meal, and leftover wedges kept well in the refrigerator.

Likewise, olive oil, rosemary and a bit of balsamic vinegar transformed a tangle of red onions into a meltingly soft, sweet and savory wonder that was a perfect side dish and also satisfying when eaten on its own. Like the polenta pie, it kept well in the refrigerator, making it a practical dish that would last throughout a busy work week.

Worth the investment: For anybody interested in introducing more vegetables into their diet and wary of the alleged complexity surrounding their preparation, this book's value far exceeds its actual cost. Bishop's recipes are high on flavor and low on fuss; his book makes a delicious and practical addition to any cookbook collection.