Review: Cookbook serves up produce recipes

Have you had a chance this year to visit Vancouver’s Farmers Market?

“Cooking From the Farmers’ Market”

By Jodi Liano and Tasha De Serio; Weldon Owen

I made it a couple of weekends ago, and just like last year and the year before that, I had to stop myself from going “produce crazy” as I walked past the vendors.

Does anyone else have this problem? Maybe if I had my own vegetable garden, I wouldn’t get so excited about piles of fresh-picked asparagus, beautiful heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, basil, corn, onions, cucumbers — oh my goodness,

I’m getting excited just writing about produce!

Good thing that the library has a large cookbook collection to help veggie fans like me turn a farmers market bonanza into a delicious banquet.

Where to start, you ask? I suggest “Cooking From the Farmers Market” because it focuses on the very thing I’m writing about in this column, and the recipes are delicious and easy to follow.

The authors are experienced chefs who promote healthy cooking with fresh ingredients. Even if you’re a cooking newbie or not that fired up about spending time in the kitchen, I’m pretty sure the recipes and accompanying photographs will prompt you to attempt a dish or two.

Mom always said, “Eat your veggies,” and with the help of this cookbook, you’ll be glad you did.