From artichokes to zucchini, this cookbook is a celebration of the wonderful variety of tastes, textures, and shapes that make fresh vegetables a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Superbly detailed, this volume is organized alphabetically with descriptions and illustrations of 78 vegetable favorites. Cooks learn how to select, check for ripeness, store, and cook nature's bounty. Recipes range from the gourmet to the simply pleasurable.