Book Review - Grains: 150 Recipes for Every Appetite

Grains: 150 Recipes for Every Appetite by Molly Brown, Hardie Grant, 2014.

Chef and food author Molly Brown presents this just released, in-depth book to help you navigate the world of grains.  Learn how to choose, prepare and cook a wide variety of whole grains, cereals and seeds.  This hardcover edition is 304 pages of information, recipes and full color photography.

The first section of the book starts out with Seeds, pulses, legumes & grains.  It contains a lengthy list of items, accompanied by a paragraph dedicated to each item, along with a full color photo, and instructions on how long they need to be soaked and cooked, and ending with a description of their nutritional value.  You will recognize old favorites like lentils, split peas, chickpeas, butterbeans, wild rice, barley, corn, buckwheat, rye, and oats.  Get an education on the wonders of haricot beans, flageolet beans, camargue red rice, faro, freekeh, and kamut.  There is a whole world of grains, cereals and seeds that I've never even heard of.  How about you?

The chapters are then broken down into groups like

• Breakfast
• Soups
• Salads
• Stews
• Pilaffs, risottos & paellas
• Dinner
• Sides
• Sweet things
• Bread & crackers

Each chapter is then broken down into corresponding recipes.  For example, the Breakfast chapter contains recipes such as Six Grain Porridge, Warm Muesli, Home Made Granola or Oat, Ricotta & Berry Pancakes.  I couldn't resist the pancake recipe, so I decided to give it a try....

These pancakes were quick and easy to make.  My son, the nutrition major, said they were the best grain pancakes he'd ever eaten because he liked the nutty and grainy flavor.  My daughter gave them 2 thumbs up because of the blueberries.   I liked them because of the taste and texture.  My husband, who doesn't care for whole-wheat flour, agreed to try them but said he still prefers regular pancakes.  So it looks like the kids and I will be eating these again.

 Grains contains a long list of recipes I've book marked to try.  Some of them include

• granola
• smoothies
• muffins
• bean soup
• cauliflower risotto
• Spanish rice
• old fashioned roast guinea fowl
• cranberry, apple & oat crumble
• banana cake
• oatmeal bread
• pumpernickel bread

One thing I particularly liked about the layout of this book was how each recipe contained your grocery list and it was broken down into groups.  For example, the Oregano & lemon pork chop recipe has the shopping list broken down into 3 sections:

1. From the grocer
2. from the greengrocer
3. from the butcher

Isn't that a great idea?  It then has the recipe in an easy to follow format and it's accompanied by a full page color photo of the finished meal.  Take my word for it - the pork chop looks tender and juicy!

From breakfast through dessert, Grains has you covered.  If you'd like to learn how to work whole grains into your daily diet, then this book is for you.  Eating healthy food doesn't have to be boring and it's easier to add nutritious and delicious whole foods to your diet than you'd think.  Pick up a copy and take the first step to eating with grains today!

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(I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  Images are the property of the publisher and cannot be reproduced without consent.)