Northern California’s bountiful spring harvest — ranging from ripe, sweet cherries to bright green fava beans  — is on display at farmstands throughout the county these days.

‘The Whole Foods Market Cookbook’

A dish made with vegetable stock is never going to taste the same as one with a meat stock, but skillful vegetarian cooking never tries to imitate meat flavors. Instead, it strives to highlight the qualities inherent in ingredients grown from the soil.

3/4 pound head of cauliflower

Sweet green pea shoots have been eaten as a seasonal delicacy in China forever. But their delicate, sweet flavor is still unknown to many Westerners. The shoots have, however, leapt over the boundaries of Chinatowns and can be found on restaurant menus and in specialty markets. And they have proven so popular that the shoots are now grown as a crop instead of being available only as a delicious by-product of sweet peas. Great food is not about the most expensive ingredients. It is about how ingredients are handled and combined to enhance essential flavors. This recipe of my grandmother’s is an example of that principle. Everyone, from my grandfather’s peers to my buddies, who would devour anything she had made, agreed that my grandmother’s cooking was the best.

‘Sara Foster’s Casual Cooking’

Yemen, the only republic on the Arabian Peninsula, is one of the world’s oldest centers of civilization. The spice trade there goes back to ancient times, when what is now modern Yemen was famous for its incense and cinnamon. Several cities were founded along the old spice route, which produced such riches that the Romans called the Arabian Peninsula “Arabia Felix” — “Happy Arabia.”

Diana Kennedy, author of  “The Art of Mexican Cooking,” will bring some of her favorite ingredients to a class at the Napa Whole Foods Culinary Center, Thursday, June 5, 6-7 p.m. She’ll also be signing copies of her book. The cost is $52.

What’s your comfort food?

When you’re dining out, here are some tips for making whole grain choices:

I’m often asked, “If I were to change just one thing, what could I do to help me lose weight and/or improve my health?” I’d definitely make my recommendation based on a list of common denominators that helped overweight contestants win a place on NBC’s fitness show, “The Biggest Loser.” These same factors have helped America earn its top ranking among obese nations of the world. I found that most contestants: