Essential to many Asian cuisines, Mung Bean Sprouts are pale yellow and silvery white, a couple of inches long, and hefty enough to yield a satisfying juicy crunch in your mouth. There's no comparison between the packaged offerings and those you sprout yourself, which have the delightful flavor of peas just plucked from the vine. Culinary tip: to serve Mung Sprouts hot, steam or stir-fry quickly -- 30 seconds should do it. 8oz packet. 1/2 cup yields about four cups. Easy directions included.

It's no secret that our health benefits greatly from a diet that includes fresh vegetable sprouts (newly germinated seeds), which are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. But these tender greens don't thrive on the market shelf -- "fresh" is key to their quality and they are best when you grow them yourself. Now you can sprout just the quantity you need, replenish it often, and never suffer weather-related crop damage or seasonal unavailability.