Cookbook Spotlight

"New Vegetarian: More Than 75 Fresh, Contemporary Recipes for Pasta, Tagines, Curries, Soups & Stews and Desserts"
By Robin Asbell
Photographs by Yvonne Duivenvoorden
Chronicle Books 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Though it may lack meat, vegetarian food shouldn't have to be lacking in flavor or nutrients, especially when eating local, seasonal produce is currently such a culinary focus (thanks, Alice Waters!). And though the "New Vegetarian" cookbook may have some unexpected flavoring pairings (edamame quesadillas, cabbage omelettes, anyone?), they're headed in the right direction, with an emphasis on fresh produce, protein substitutes and an interesting flavor palate.

See what we tested and whether the book is worth buying after the jump.

'Salt to Taste: The Keys to Confident, Delicious Cooking'
By Marco Canora with Catherine Young
Photographs by John Kernick
Rodale -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

If you've never had the experience of eating a meal at Marco Canora's restaurant Hearth in New York's East Village, this book brings that soulful experience to you. If you have eaten there, you'll certainly want to pick up this book to recreate that experience at home. With "Salt to Taste," Canora gives you the skills to fill your kitchen with some of the Tuscan magic he plates at the restaurant.

Canora uses his wisdom at chef to explain what works in restaurant kitchen and what will work in your kitchen at home. He lays out the steps to making pasta at home and gives you three separate recipes for the dough -- each with its own specific use. Although that may sound complicated, it's not at all -- it's actually quite smart. And the chef also shares a variety of red sauces to show the complexity of Italian cuisine.

Filled with straightforward dishes that are the building blocks of wonderful Italian feasts, this cookbook is equal parts cooking inspiration and teacher. As the subtitle implies, there's definitely a level of confident cooking anyone can learn from this book.

See what we tested and whether it's worth buying after the jump.

'The All-American Christmas Cookbook: Family Favorites From Every State'
By Georgia Orcutt and John Margolies
Chronicle Books -- 2008
Buy it on Amazon

Half of what makes the Christmas holiday special is the warm, familiar blanket of tradition -- the Christmas tree (real or faux), the music (Bing Crosby classics or modern hits), the food: eggnog or mulled wine, baked ham or roasted turkey, buche de Noel or peppermint pie. And "The All-American Christmas Cookbook" showcases the very best of festive dishes rooted in American tradition, from a lebkuchen recipe inspired by German settlers in Indiana to maple-walnut fudge from the syrup state of Vermont.

See what we tested and whether it's worth buying after the jump.

Photo: Amazon.com.

'The Comfort Table: Recipes for Everyday Occasions'
Recipes by Katie Lee
Photographs by Miki Duisterhof
Simon & Schuster -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

"The Comfort Table: Recipes for Everyday Occasions" is Katie Lee's second cookbook, with an emphasis on holidays, seasonal celebrations and entertaining for crowds big and small. The book, broken down by occasion, includes a menu, complete with an appetizer, salad, main, side(s), drink, and dessert, along with a playlist and appropriate wine pairing.

Lee makes a point to demystify entertaining -- there's no need for a specific reason to celebrate or for un-needed stress. The "Party Tips" she shares in the book's introduction are simple tasks that should be included in every entertaining 101.

Southern comfort dishes like grits cakes, casseroles and biscuits are reinvented with flavorful ingredients like wild mushrooms, sage and Parmesan, while classics like fried chicken are presented as they should be -- untouched. Desserts like rustic apple pie, cheesecake, and chocolate-banana cream pie will have your sweet-tooth coming back for seconds (and maybe thirds). Don't have time to make the entire menu for dinner? Most side and main dishes can be made during the week to make this cookbook more versatile.

See what we tested and read our exclusive interview with Katie Lee after the jump to find out her favorite recipes and get the dish on the rumors of her own burger joint.

"Love Your Leftovers: Feed Your Friends & Family for Next to Nothing"
By various authors
Photography by CICO Books
CICO Books -- 2009
Buy it at Amazon

With Thanksgiving 2009 now over, many are already contemplating how to transform their leftovers. "Love Your Leftovers" offers welcome creations to use your leftovers in simple, delicious, unexpected ways -- provided your pantry is stocked with a few non-essentials.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

"The New Thanksgiving Table: An American Celebration of Family, Friends and Food"
by Diane Morgan
Photographs by Leigh Beisch
Chronicle Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Thanksgiving may be all about tradition, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for a bit of experimentation.

In Diane Morgan's follow-up to "The Thanksgiving Table," she looks to new culinary traditions on the American Thanksgiving table. While there are old favorites like deviled eggs and giblet gravy, they share the spotlight with linguiça sausage stuffing and hazelnut popovers. This is not a T-day cookbook for your stodgy grandmother.

'Venezia: Food and Dreams'
Recipes by Tessa Kiros
Photography by Manos Chatzikonstantis
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC - 2009
Buy it on Amazon

If you've had the opportunity to travel to Venice and experience its magic and charm, this book will immediately have you longing for a trip to the famed city on the sea.

Venice, a city known for gondola rides, masked Carnival goers and winding passageways, has captivated tourists for centuries. Between the sidewalk tables set up in St. Mark's Square to the candlelit restaurants hid deep in the city's nooks, the city long known for secrets has its culinary treasures revealed in "Venezia."

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

Photo: Amazon.com

'The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook'
Recipes by Allysa Torey and Jennifer Appel
Photographs by Rita Maas and Zeva Oelbaum
Simon & Schuster -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

While we can admit that we're not the biggest fans of the extremely popular sugary concoctions (cupcakes) that Magnolia Bakery puts out, we are on the other hand, fans of their bars and squares. Yes, the cupcake movement has taken over New York City, but there's no doubt that this establishment still holds the market share with the longest lines.

"The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook" consists of recipes for muffins, quick breads, coffee and Bundt cakes, cookies, brownies and bars, cupcakes and layer cakes, icings, cheesecakes, pies, tarts and ice creams. Whew. Chances are if you've ever seen it in the front window of the bakery, the secret to that recipe lies in this book, along with some new recipes from Allysa Torey's home kitchen.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

'Grillin' with Gas: 150 Mouthwatering Recipes for Great Grilled Food'
by Fred Thompson
Photographs by Ben Fink
The Taunton Press -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

"Barbecue Nation" author Fred Thompson goes through the hows and whys of gas grilling in his latest book. Here you'll learn what to look for in a gas grill, how to use it and how to turn it into a meat-smoking machine.

Along the way, you'll find some solid recipes to keep you grilling all year long.

See what we tested and whether it's worth buying after the jump.

Photo: Amazon.com

'Quick From Scratch Italian Cookbook'
Recipes from Food & Wine Magazine
Photographs by Melanie Acevedo
Food & Wine Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Whether you're an avid subscriber to Food & Wine or you visit the website once in a while for a recipe, this is the book to add to your kitchen shelves. "Quick from Scratch Italian Cookbook" provides cooks of all levels with satisfying and healthy recipes. Classics are translated into practical weeknight meals with basic step-by-step instructions and there are recipes for every season.

And what would an Italian meal be without wine? There's a no-fuss wine-pairing recommendation for each and every recipe to take pressure off the cook.

Boasting everything from antipasti, soup and pasta, to fish, poultry and steak, recipes like linguine with cauliflower, garlic and bread crumbs and baked rigatoni with spinach, ricotta and Fontina will keep everyone at the table content. Finish the meal off with one of many tantalizing desserts such as honey-baked figs with ice cream or espresso granita with whipped cream.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.