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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 5, 2001
Hundreds of cookbooks are published each year on a variety of subjects. Trying to weed through them is a chore in itself, especially if you are considering giving a cookbook as a holiday gift.
The suggestions here should help with someone on your gift list.
For that family on the go, try Family Circle Quick and Easy Recipes (Broadway Books, $24.95). This is a good choice not only because the recipes are easy and the ingredients familiar; it's also versatile. Many dishes are suitable for family dinners or company entertaining.
If you're buying for a novice, Elinor Klivans' Fearless Baking (Simon & Schuster, $30) is a good pick. The recipes in each chapter start with the easiest and progress to the more difficult. Various techniques are featured to make baking easier.
Julia's Kitchen Wisdom (Knopf, $19.95) will suit just about any cook. Packed with lessons Julia Child has learned from a lifetime of cooking, the benefits of this book are endless. Learn to salvage Hollandaise sauce if it has been heated too long, among other valuable tips. It's a mini-encyclopedia for the kitchen.
Cooking With Herbs, The Flavor of Provence by Michael Biehn (Flammarion, $35) is perfect for those who tend herb gardens. Not only are the photos beautiful, but there are also plenty of simple recipes that could double as a hostess gift. The book covers everything from aniseed to savory, so there are no worries about giving it to someone with only a small garden.
For the Internet junkie, Jorj Morgan's At Home in the Kitchen (Cumberland House, $18.95) is perfect. This cookbook comes with a companion Web site (www.jorj.com) that offers alternative ideas, tips and substitutions not found in the book. Look for recipe tester comments as well as reader comments. Note: Recipes are not on the Web site.
As pressure cookers gain popularity again, Express Cooking by Barry Bluestein and Kevin Morrissey (H.P. Books, 2001, $24.95) is a nice companion gift. The book is devoted entirely to pressure cooker recipes for everything from entrees to desserts. Although this is suitable for a variety of models, check to make sure the one you're giving is included.
The Greens Cookbook by Deborah Madison (HP Books, $24.95) will appeal to vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The emphasis is on fresh ingredients and healthful cooking. The section on wine pairing with vegetarian dishes is especially helpful.
If Dad is getting a grill, The Best Recipe -- Barbecue & Grilling (Boston Common, $29.95) from the editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine is excellent. Perfect for even those new to backyard cooking, recipes are adapted for both gas and charcoal grills. Instructions for each recipe are precise and straightforward, nothing a novice couldn't handle.
For those looking for new adventures in the kitchen, Ken Hom's Foolproof Chinese Cooking (DK Publishing, $19.95) introduces the taste of Asia. You'll find Chinese restaurant favorites to make at home and a description of the tools needed. Step-by-step photos are helpful to those new to these techniques.
With more people cooking at home, or wanting to cook at home, cookbooks make wonderfully thoughtful gifts. Choose something that suits the recipient's taste, like desserts, grilling, etc., and you can't go wrong.
- Ellen Folkman's cookbook review column appears monthly in the Taste section.