50 Best Plants on the Planet

February 4, 2013
Food columnist Thomas (Orange County Register) reworks the concept behind the 2010 Melissa’s Everyday Cooking with Organic Produce for this equally delicious, keep-it-simple collection of recipes for meals (meat, fish, pasta, vegetarian), desserts, and beverages, which are all based on 50 nutritional-powerhouse fruits and vegetables. (The family-owned Melissa’s is the largest supplier of specialty produce in the U.S.) Using principles Thomas developed as nutritionist on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, the dishes, she says, will help readers make every calorie count for better health and a slimmer waistline, and will also free them from counting calories, although such counts, along with a breakdown of fats, fiber, protein, etc., accompany each recipe. The alphabetical listing includes familiar favorites (cabbage, asparagus, and strawberries), the more occasionally encountered (mustard greens, gooseberries, and guava), and a few rarities (chrysanthemum and cactus leaf). From a truly sweet and very crunchy mixture of caramelized brussels sprouts, dried cherries, and pistachios to “pita pizzas” decked with nectarines, almonds, and blue cheese, to pork tenderloin with apple-raisin stuffing and guava sauce, surprising combinations, textures, and global flavors and cooking styles abound. Experts contend that most Americans eat a fraction of the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended each day, but the fare offered here will likely tempt even produce-phobic champions of the Standard American Diet.