Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation - Michael Pollan

In his latest book, Michael Pollan, known for advocating eating well and reasonably, praises the act of cooking itself. Cooked (Penguin, $17) is not the first paean to cooking and its societal value, but Pollan’s description of transforming ingredients into meals makes the whole process feel sacred.  Further, he describes the void in our frantic schedules when food becomes a chore to be outsourced to restaurants and frozen dinners.  To solve this problem, Pollan argues, we should become familiar with the four ways of cooking food. Keyed to the elements, these are grilling (fire), boiling (water), baking (air) and fermentation (earth).  Devoting a section to each mode, Pollan guides readers through its history and culture, with special attention to its culinary masters.  Not a book of recipes (there is one recipe per element) Cooked is inspiration to get back into the kitchen. The satisfaction of turning the Earth’s bounty into something to be enjoyed and shared with loved ones is a uniquely human gift.  What could be better?

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation By Michael Pollan Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780143125334
Availability: In Stock—Click for Locations
Published: Penguin Books - April 29th, 2014

Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health - Jo Robinson

Before you hit the farmers’ markets, tuck a copy of Eating on the Wild Side (Little, Brown, $16) in that canvas bag. Food activist Jo Robinson has crunched thousands of scientific studies and nutrition lab analyses for this perspective-shifting and practical guide to fresh foods. Through some four-hundred farming generations (!), humans have developed crops on the basis of taste, appearance, and disease-resistance, paying little mind to their nutritional content. More recently, industrial processing and transportation have required that foods be durable, whether nutritional or not; spinach, for instance,  “superfood” though it is, has eight times fewer antioxidants than the dandelion leaves blighting our yards. As we can’t – and won’t – all forage in Rock Creek, Robinson offers practical ways of tapping into the “wild side” of our groceries and markets, recommending specific varieties of produce along with tips on storing and preparing them  for maximum nutritional value . And if you garden, better yet! Robinson has invaluable information on selecting seeds.

Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health By Jo Robinson Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780316227933
Availability: Not On Our Shelves—Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Little, Brown Spark - May 20th, 2014

Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. - Howard Youth

Whether you are new to the nation’s capital or have lived here all your life, there’s much to learn from Howard Youth’s Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. (Johns Hopkins Univ., $24.95). An ideal hostess or housewarming gift, this book deserves to be consulted year-round and city-wide; it’s everything the title promises. Starting with a natural history of the region, this information-packed volume proceeds to a comprehensive listing of park networks and forests, with maps and logistical details. Delightful, detailed watercolors by Mark Klingler (themselves complemented by the photographs of Robert Mumford) survey area birds, mammals, invertebrates, trees, flowers, mushrooms, and geological formations. The book particularly emphasizes the contribution of each species to the area’s ecosystem, guiding new and seasoned observers through the breadth of nature resplendent in our city.

Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. By Howard Youth, Mark A. Klingler (Illustrator), Robert E. Mumford (Photographer) Cover Image
By Howard Youth, Mark A. Klingler (Illustrator), Robert E. Mumford (Photographer)
$27.00
ISBN: 9781421412047
Availability: In Stock—Click for Locations
Published: Johns Hopkins University Press - April 30th, 2014

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