When I was young, I wanted nothing to do with the desserts my father brought home from our monthly trips to the Thai market in the city: gray griddled discs of taro root and coconut, round pancakes filled with coconut cream, and layered pink jellies flavored, disappointingly, with coconut.

Well, times have changed. Now I'm the coconut fiend and the traditional Thai dessert kao neow dahm is my favorite way to get my fix at home. Made with sticky whole grain black rice, coconut milk and toasted coconut, this warm rice pudding is creamy, sweet, a little savory, and very coconutty. It's also dairy-free and gluten-free, making it a great dessert — or breakfast — for almost any guest. More

I am a self-professed granola bar fiend. Maybe it's an ingrained snacking habit from the countless bars eaten in the back seat of the car before ballet practice all through grade school. Or maybe it's the fact that I tend to get hangry if I go too long between meals. Either way, I nearly always have a granola bar or two close at hand. Making my own from the assortment of oats, nuts, and dried fruits that are always in my cupboard was a natural next step. More

Making risotto with whole grains like farro, barley or quinoa instead of arborio rice can result in a dish with interesting textures and great flavor, but it usually lacks the creaminess that traditional risotto is known for. Martha Rose Shulman of the New York Times has a smart method for making creamy whole-grain risottos that combine the best of both worlds. More

What would life in the kitchen be like without whole grains? For me, it would be a sadder existence. Oats, whole wheat, and pseudo-grains like quinoa and amaranth provide pops of protein and healthy fiber. But they offer more than healthy benefits, too. They are delicious! Where would meals be without nutty brown rice, tender oats, and delicate quinoa? Here are 15 of our favorite whole grain recipes for every meal: Quinoa chili and salads, whole wheat muffins, a brown rice bowl with lemongrass, tofu, and cashews. There's a warm farro salad with roasted vegetables, and whole wheat couscous, too. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner — there's a whole grain to enjoy. More

You might be more familiar with wheat berries in their ground form, a.k.a. whole wheat flour, but we're talking the whole whole grain here! Cooked in simmering water until soft, wheat berries make a nutritious and mighty tasty addition to soups, salads, and side dishes. Have a favorite way of using wheat berries to share? More

I don't bother with carefully measuring water or fiddling around with getting just the right flame when I cook whole grains on the stove. Instead, I cook pretty much every type of grain using the same no-fuss method — with great results every time. More

Q: I've recently found out I cannot eat grains (any!) nor eggs. I'm running out of breakfast ideas (only so many smoothies I want to slurp down per week). Help?

Sent by Gaby More

I had my first experience of the Nickel Diner in downtown Los Angeles a few weeks ago, and you can bet I zeroed right in on the "Eggs Baked on Polenta with Spinach." My decision did not go unrewarded. In fact, I couldn't stop thinking about this dish and its divine trifecta of savory breakfast treats, even after I'd boarded my plane and flew home. More

Q: I'm gluten and oat intolerant (yes, even gluten-free oats), so no wheat, barley, rye or oats. But I really miss muesli/granola-type breakfasts. Can I make muesli or granola with buckwheat? Anybody have a gluten-free cereal recipe that also doesn't contain oats?

Sent by Alison More

Horchata, the creamy refreshing rice drink of Latin America, has its roots in medieval Spain but today the creamy, cool beverage can be found all over Central and South America, reflecting the different ingredients and flavors of each country. Here in the US we're generally accustomed to Mexican-style horchata made with rice and cinnamon. From a classic recipe to a couple of newer inventions, here are three favorite versions of this refreshing drink. More