Book Review: Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson

My friend Heidi Swanson, creator of the gorgeous 101 Cookbooks food blog, has authored a new vegetarian cookbook, Super Natural Cooking, filled with advice, ideas, and recipes for cooking with natural foods.

Ever find yourself in the natural foods section of your grocery store wondering what one would do with amaranth or quinoa? Or have you ever looked for creative ways to incorporate "super foods" into your diet?

Heidi lays it all out for us, explaining the foods you should have in your pantry, healthful grains to use in your cooking, the importance of including phytonutrient-rich colorful foods in your meals, and suggestions for super foods and natural sweeteners. The book includes over 80 recipes, most beautifully photographed by Heidi herself.

Sound just a bit too "healthy"?

I understand. My mom went through a wheat germ and alfalfa sprouts kick in the 70s, from which we kids are still recovering.

What I can tell you about Heidi, as I've come to know her over the last couple of years, is that everything I've ever eaten that she's cooked is drop-dead delicious.

Really.

I'm so not a vegetarian and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. It doesn't disappoint. In fact, it is a stunningly beautiful book; the photography alone is inspiration to try out some of the more unusual ingredients. Brava Heidi!