Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I may be biased because I took Joanne's School of Natural Cookery course ten years ago to date and came to know and love this fascinating woman's approach to ingredients and their interrelationships; nonetheless, I still think this book remains a a powerful and compelling learning tool. Amazing Grains opens with the idea of learning cooking as an open process and flexible framework rather than an exercise in rote memorization. Saltzman does not reject the accepted knowledge of traditional cooking, but works through an analysis of why some cooking 'traditions' taste good and what about their ingredients allow them to combine to make delicious dishes. She returns to the basic elements of taste and instructs the reader through theory and example in how to reconstruct flavor combinations to come about one's own dishes. Even more than this, Saltzman's theories work when applied to traditional cookbooks and can be used to analyze, add to, and improve their recipes. Yes, the examples in the book seem somewhat odd at first, but when you realize that the principles used to come about these unusual recipes actually generate successful dishes, you'll become excited about the possibilities! There is a somewhat macrobiotic/American vegetarian slant to this book, hence the frequent use of seaweeds, miso, mirin (Japanese sweetened cooking rice wine), and umeboshi vinegar; however, the art of the book is all about cross-cultural, cross-palate substitutions and how to utilize them wisely. You can find lists of recipes in any other vegetarian cookbook - what this book gives you is the knowledge and power to be your own list-maker!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Amazing Grains: Creating Vegetarian Main Dishes with Whole Grains
Amazing Grains features low-fat, high fiber, virtually cholesterol free and ecologically sound recipes for tasty and nutritious main dishes that emphasize whole grains and vegetables. In addition, it offers in-depth explanations of the creative process in cooking. Application of the techniques found in Amazing Grains will free the reader forever from dependence on recipes. Each recipe includes discussion of how the dish was created, why a particular ingredient or technique was chosen, and the results of substituting other methods and ingredients. By examining the process, readers can learn how to apply the basic principles in new and creative ways. Included are chapters on ingredients, the creative process, cooking methods, sauces, as well as information on nutrition and cookware choices. Charts and worksheets help readers develop and record their own creative grain dishes.
