"Grains, Greens, and Grated Coconuts is more than a cookbook-it is a collection of treasured memories and delicious family recipes presented against a backdrop of Indian culinary and cultural history. Augmented with an extensive bibliography, the book is also a wonderful guide to cooking with herbs and spices. A comprehensive glossary provides the origins and history of each grain and spice. Familiar with Western cooking methods, Ramachandran shows how to integrate these recipes into a Western-style menu and suggests ways for home cooks to expand their repertoire without having to create an entire menu of dishes. Culinary historians and home cooks alike will enjoy Ramachandran"s treasured stories and recipes in Grains, Greens, and Grated Coconuts."-Monica Bhide, Writer and Author of The Spice is Right & Everything Indian Cookbook"Grains, Greens, and Grated Coconuts is a labor of love ... offering both mouth-watering recipes and a personal account of an ancient matrilineal culture. Highly educational yet approachable, this is a must-have for anyone interested in the food and customs of the Indian subcontinent."-Suneeta Vaswani, Cooking School Teacher and Author of Easy Indian Cooking