New cookbooks are a bright spot in spring, and this year's crop is a bumper one.

Let’s admit it, whole wheat pasta is misunderstood. It’s different from the white, semolina pasta — nuttier, denser and toastier — and delicious when allowed to shine in its own right.

White flour, white bread, and white rice are all refined grains. Whole-grain pasta is packed with nutrients and fiber. While whole-wheat pasta is readily available, many retailers now carry varieties ...