For those who think a rice cooker is a one-hit wonder, it's time to think again. Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo? Mixed Mushroom and Bulgur Risotto? Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Farro? Yes, all can be made in a rice cooker!

This practical cookbook details methods for preparing basic grains and collects 85 soups, stews, salads, side dishes and complete meals, including lots of options for vegetarians and pescatarians. And the information on how to use a rice cooker to its fullest advantage-from basic, no-frills models to high-tech fuzzy-logic machines-makes it easy to put satisfying, delicious meals on the weeknight dinner table with minimal effort and maximum speed.