A Taste of Heave and Earth or Herbalist in the Kitchen

A Taste of Heave and Earth

Author: Bettina Vitell

For Bettina Vitell the simple art of cooking holds the seeds to a deeper, more life-enriching experience. It is a way to become more aware of ourselves and the world around us, to think clearly and to delight in even the most basic daily activities of our lives.

The dishes in A Taste of Heaven and Earth reflect this Zen philosophy. Bettina Vitell's uncomplicated recipes produce sophisticated, creative meals without ever losing site of her goal of preparing low-dairy vegetarian food. Tastes from both East and West merge with delicious results: here kale and tofu adorn pizza, and udon noodles are dressed with pesto. There are recipes for soup stock and tomato sauce, as well as cashew ginger sauce and apricot lime chutney. The homey breakfast and dessert sections provide recipes for muffins and crisps; and sections on pizza, sushi, curries, and Mexican-inspired foods expand the traditional range of vegetarian cooking.

A Taste of Heaven and Earth explores beyond the reaches of traditional cook-books by offering contemplative essays and ink drawings that heighten the cook's sensory experience in the kitchen. They provide questions and stories that help readers realize the simplicity and beauty inherent in preparing and eating good food.

What People Are Saying

Thomas Moore
"A Taste of Heaven and Earth has the right proportions of heaven and earth. It doesn't gag our throats with philosophy, but rather seasons our cooking and eating with small morsels of reflection. It's a wonderful book to read, taste... and keep forever. It knows that cooking with care is more important than just about anything, and that food is a sacred path to soul."

Jeanne Lemlin
"Bettina Vitell has successfully wedded her lively palate with a purposeful sense of simplicity in the kitchen to create delicious, healthful, and unpretentious recipes. That they are vegetarian is incidental; this food will excite any lover who values fresh imaginative cooking."

Read also Cooking the French Way or Cooking the Mexican Way

Herbalist in the Kitchen

Author: Gary Allen

The foodie's ultimate herbal encyclopedia



Created as the ideal reference for anyone with a serious interest in cooking with herbs, spices, or related plant materials, The Herbalist in the Kitchen is truly encyclopedic in scope. It provides complete information about the uses, botany, toxicity, and flavor chemistry of herbs, as well as a listing for nearly every name that an ingredient is known by around the world.



Even including herbs and spices not yet seen in the United States (but likely to be featured in recipes for adventurous cooks soon), The Herbalist in the Kitchen is organized into one hundred and four sections, each consisting of a single botanical family. The book provides all available information about the chemical compounds responsible for a plant's characteristic taste and scent, which allows cooks to consider new subtleties and potential alternatives. For instance, the primary flavoring ingredient of cloves is eugenol; when a cook knows that bay leaves also contain eugenol, a range of exciting substitutions becomes clear. The Herbalist in the Kitchen also provides guidance about measuring herbs, enabling readers to understand the dated measuring standards from antique cookbooks.



A volume in The Food Series, edited by Andrew W. Smith

Table of Contents:

List of Illustrations     xi
Acknowledgments     xiii
Introduction     1
Agavaceae     11
Agave
Tuberose
Aizoaceae     13
Khadia
Alliaceae (Amaryllidaceae)     13
Chive
Garlic
Ramps
Society Garlic
Amaranthaceae     21
Amaranth
Polpala
Anacardiaceae     23
Ethiopian Pepper
Mango
Maprong
Pink Peppercorn
Staghorn Sumac
Annonaceae     30
African Nutmeg
Ear Flower
Ylang-Ylang
Apiaceae (formerly Umbelliferae)     32
Ajowan
Alexanders
Angelica
Anise
Asafoetida
Caraway
Carrot
Celery
Chervil
Cilantro
Corkwing
Culantro
Cumin
Dill
Fennel
Fo Ti Tieng
Imperatoria
Imperial
Masterwort
Korean
Watercress
Lovage
Parsley
Pimpinella
Samphire
Sea Holly
Skirret
Spignel
Sweet
Cicely
Trefoil
Yampah
Apocynaceae     71
Arabian Num-num
Frangipani
Quebracho
Aquifoliaceae     73
Mate
Araceae     75
Arum Root
Calamus
Calaloo
Tannia
Araliaceae     78
Acanthopanax
Aralia
Ginseng
Prickly Ash
Aristlochiaceae     81
Colcameca Vine
Wild Ginger
Asclepiadaceae     83
Condurango
Mondia
Asteraceae (formerly Compositae)     84
Ambrosia
Arnica
Bitter
Leaf
Blessed Thistle
Calendula
Carolina Vanilla
Chamomile
Coltsfoot
Common Dandelion
Common Sow Thistle
Costmary
Curry Plant
Davana
Deer Tongue
Echinacea
Elecampane
Feverfew
Fleabane
French Scorzonera
Guascas
Gynura
Iva
Mary Thistle
Mexican Mint Marigold
Mugwort
Ox-tongue
Papalo
Pellitory of Spain
Stevia
Tansy
Tarragon
Toothache Plant
Wild Chicory
Yarrow
Yerba de Conejo
Berberidaceae     114
Barberry
Bignoniaceae     115
Guajes Hauxya
Pau D'Arco
Bixaceae     116
Annatto
Bombacaceae     119
Baobab
Boraginaceae     119
Alkanet
Borage
Comfrey
Lungwort
Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae)     123
Candytuft
Cress
Curly Sea Kale
Garlic Mustard
Hairy Bitter Cress
Horseradish
Lady's Smock
Mustard
Pepperroot
Radish
Rocket
Shepherd's Purse
Sweet Rocket
Watercress
Burseraceae (formerly Simaroubaceae)     139
Elemi
Frankincense
Myrrh
Quassia
Calycanthaceae     143
Sweet Shrub
Campanulaceae     144
Rampion
Cannabaceae     145
Hop
Marijuana
Cappardaceae (formerly Capparaceae)     147
Capers
Caprifoliaceae     148
European Elderberry
Honeysuckle
Caryophyllaceae     152
Algerian Tea
Carnation
Celastraceae      153
Khat
Chenopodiaceae     154
Epazote
Cistaceae     157
Cistus
Convolulaceae     158
Water Spinach
Crassulaceae     159
Hens and Chickens
Stonecrop
Cupressaceae     160
Juniper Berry
Cyperaceae     163
Earth Almond
Ericaceae     165
Heather
Labrador Tea
Pipsissewa
Wild Rosemary
Wintergreen
Euphorbiaceae     169
Candlenut
Cascarilla
Chaya
Gentianaceae (formerly Menyanthanaceae)     171
Buckbean
Calumba
Centaury
Chiretta Root
Gentian
Geraniaceae     175
Rose Geranium
Zdravets
Guttiferae (Clusicaceae)     177
Asam Gelugor
Kokum
St. John's Wort
Hydrophyllaceae     179
Yerba Santa
Illiciaceae     180
Star Anise
Irideaceae     182
Orris
Saffron
Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae)     185
Alpine Basil Thyme
Anise
Hyssop
Balm
Basil
Bee Balm
Betony
Bugle
Calamint
Catnip
Cuban Oregano
Cumberland Rosemary
Dittany
Dittany of Crete
Germander
Ground Ivy
Horehound
Hyssop
Konivari
Lavender
Marjoram
Mint
Moldavian Balm
Motherwort
Native Mint
Oregano
Patchouly
Perilla
Rosemary
Rosemary Mint
Sage
Skullcap
Summer Savory
Thryba
Thyme
White Dead Nettle
Winter Savory
Yerba Buena
Za'atar
Za'atar Farsi
Za'atar Hommar
Lauraceae (sometimes listed as Myrtaceae)     238
Allspice
Avocado
Bay Leaf
Bois de Rose
California Laurel
Cassia
Cinnamon
File
Spice Bush
Leguminosae (sometimes listed as Fabaceae)     251
Abrus
Acacia
Astragalus
Broom
Chepil
Clover
False Acacia
Fenugreek
Goat's Rue
Licorice
Melilot
Mesquite
Parkia
Rooibos
Tamarind
Tolu
Tonka Bean
Liliaceae     269
Aloe
Butcher's Broom
Checkered Lily
Golden Needles
Sarsaparilla
Tassel Hyacinth
Yucca
Magnoliaceae     274
Champaca
Native Pepper
Sweet Bay
Winter's Bark
Malvaceae     277
Alaches
Hollyhock
Marsh Mallow
Musk Mallow
Musk Seed
Rose Mallow
Roselle
Meliaceae     283
Juran
Margosa
Monimiaceae     284
Boldo
Peruvian Nutmeg
Plume Nutmeg
Moringaceae     285
Moringa
Myricaceae     286
Sweet Gale
Myristicaceae     287
Nutmeg
Myrsinaceae     290
Areuj Kathembang
Myrtaceae     291
Aniseed Myrtle
Cajeput
Cloves
Eucalyptus
Lemon Myrtle
Myrtle
Niaouli Leaf
Naiadaceae     300
Cape Pondweed
Nyctaginaceae     301
Four O'Clocks
Nympheaceae     301
Lotus Lily
Oleaceae     303
Ash
Common Lilac
Fragrant Olive
Jasmine
Orchidaceae     306
Vanilla
Oxalidaceae     308
Cucumber Tree
Wood Sorrel
Paeonaceae     310
Peony
Palmae     311
Coconut
Date Palm
Pandanceae     313
Pandang
Papaveraceae     315
Poppy
Passifloraceae     317
Passionfruit
Pedaliaceae     318
Sesame
Pinaceae     320
Balsam Fir
Pine
Silver Fir
Piperaceae (sometimes listed as Peperomiaceae)     323
Culantro de Montana
Pepper
Plantaginaceae     332
Common Plantain
Poaceae (formerly Gramineae)     333
Buffalo Grass
Dog Grass
Lemongrass
Sugarcane
Vetiver
Polygalaceae     338
Rhatany Root
Polygonaceae     339
Bistort
Daun Kesom
Sorrel
Polypodiaceae     345
Bracken
Maidenhair Fern
Pontederiaceae     347
Water Hyacinth
Portulacaceae     348
Anacampseros
Purslane
Primulaceae     349
Primrose
Punicaceae     350
Pomegranate
Ranunculaceae     351
American Cowslip
Nigella
Wild Clematis
Resedaceae     355
Mignonette
Rhamnaceae     356
Cascara Sagrada
Maubi
New Jersey Tea
Rosaceae      358
Agrimony
Berries
Burnet
European Mountain Ash
Herb Bennet
Lady's Mantle
Meadowsweet
Rose
Sloe
Tejocote
Wild Strawberry
Rubiaceae     369
Cinchona
Coffee
Gardenia
Kasembukan
Woodruff
Rutaceae     374
Angostura
Bitter Orange
Boronia
Buchu Leaves
Citron
Citrus Leaves
Curry Leaves
False Dittany
Jambol
Lemon
Lemon Aspen
Rue
Szechuan Pepper
Santalaceae     391
Sandalwood
Sapindaceae     392
Akee
Balloon Vine
Guarana
Sapotaceae     394
Argan
Elengi
Saururaceae     396
Rau Diep Ca
Schisandraceae     397
Schisandra
Scrophulariaceae     397
Eyebright
Indian Paintbrush
Mullein
Rice Paddy Herb
Veronica
Water Hyssop
Solanaceae     401
Belladonna
Boxthorn
Chile Pepper
Henbane
Sterculianceae     410
Cacao
Kola Nut
Taxaceae     413
California Nutmeg
Theaceae     413
Tea
Tilia
Tiliaceae     416
Linden
Mulukhiyya
Tropaeolaceae     417
Nasturtium
Turneraceae     419
Damiana
Urticaceae     420
Nettle
Valerianaceae     421
Corn Salad
Valerian
Verbenaceae     423
Lemon Verbena
Monk's Pepper
Verbena
Violaceae      427
Sweet Violet
Vitaceae     428
Grapes
Zingiberaceae     429
Cardamom
Chinese Key
Costus
Galingal
Ginger
Lesser Galingal
Melegueta Pepper
Turmeric
Zedoary
Zygophyllaceae     446
Guaiac Wood
Fungi and Lichens     447
Angola Weed
Cordyceps
Glossary     449
Sources     465
Bibliography     471
Index     477