The Complete Whole Grains Cookbook: 150 Recipes for Healthy Living

the appetizer:

Learn how to add grains to your diet with The Complete Whole Grains Cookbook: 150 Recipes for Healthy Living by Judith Finlayson, with recipes like Tailgaters' Favorite Stew, Black Sticky Rice Pudding (Vegan Friendly), and Wheat Berry Minestrone with Leafy Greens (Vegan Friendly).

The Complete Whole Grains Cookbook:
150 Recipes for Healthy Living

by Judith Finlayson

Click to buy Complete Whole Grains Cookbook

While most of us know we should increase our intake of whole grains to achieve a healthier diet, it is all-too-easy to fall short of this objective. Pressed for time and unfamiliar with the range of whole grains and how to cook them, we are likely to pass them by or choose their processed counterparts, which are often far less nutritious.

The Complete Whole Grains Cookbook: 150 Recipes for Healthy Living—written by best-selling author Judith Finlayson—offers an abundance of recipes for year-round cooking, along with in-depth nutritional information and facts about the potential impact of whole grains on health.

"The Complete Whole Grains Cookbook takes the guesswork out of whole grains," says Finlayson, whose most recent cookbook, 175 Essential Slow Cooker Classics, was selected as a notable book of 2006 by The Washington Post. "It's designed to help novice and experienced cooks alike explore the world of whole grains and, ultimately, achieve a better, healthier diet."

Finlayson shares unique recipes that are not only healthy and delicious, but also showcase the vast array of grains available. Some of the recipes include:

Wild Rice and Smoked Turkey Salad with Dried Cherries

Asian-Style Beef and Wheat Berry Salad with Arugula

Amaranth Banana Walnut Bread

Curried Sweet Potato and Millet Soup

Moroccan Chicken with Couscous and Cinnamon-Spiked Prunes

Mussels in Spicy Lemongrass Broth with Chinese Black Rice

Peppery Shrimp with Couscous

Best-Ever Buckwheat Burgers with Bulgur in Tomato-Mushroom Gravy

Chewy Oatmeal Coconut Cookies with Cranberries and Pecans

Barley Pudding with Cherries and Almonds

Oatmeal Shortbread Squares

The Complete Whole Grains Cookbook provides nutritional information for each recipe, including calorie count, carbohydrate, fat and dietary fiber. It also contains detailed information on individual grains—their background, culinary and nutritional profile, as well as how to buy them, store them, and prepare them. And, for those whose preference leans toward vegetarian, the book offers a Meatless Mains chapter and numerous vegetarian and "vegan friendly" recipes.

Currently, the most readily consumed grains are white wheat flour, white rice, pearled barley, and steel-ground cornmeal, all of which are highly refined and contain the fewest vitamins and minerals. As Finlayson explains, however, whole grains are a much healthier choice, since they are generally high in disease-fighting antioxidants, fiber, beneficial fatty acids, and phytonutrients.

Finlayson believes that by introducing more whole grains into the diet, one "will be better nourished and enjoy the experience of eating more." So, in addition to those grains we are familiar with, Finlayson spends time and information on lesser-known grains such as:

Amaranth
Job's Tears
Millet
Quinoa
Rye
Sorghum

"Over the years, I became committed to eating food that is nutritious and more and more concerned about the nutrient content of what I eat," says Finlayson. "I decided to write this book because I wanted to share how delicious whole grains can be and to reinforce the message that good taste and excellent nutrition can go hand-in-hand."

About the Author

Judith Finlayson is a food writer, journalist, and author with a life-long love of cooking. Using her recipes, thousands of people have discovered not only how delicious and convenient food prepared in the slow cooker can be, but also how this handy appliance can be used to create an extraordinary range of dishes not typically associated with a slow cooker. She is the author of 125 Best Rotisserie Oven Recipes and The Convenience Cook. Her slow cooker books, The Healthy Slow Cooker, 175 Essential Slow Cooker Classics, The Best Diabetes Slow Cooker Recipes, The 150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes and Delicious and Dependable Slow Cooker Recipes, have sold more than 600,000 copies. Judith Finlayson has a long history of community involvement and has served on numerous committees and boards, focusing on the arts and social issues.