"gift guide 2010" news and stories

For as many people who love to cook, there are probably five times as many people who don't -- but they do love eating. Edible gifts are therefore almost always appreciated -- especially if you know your recipient's favorite treats. But who said fruit baskets, popcorn and chocolate-covered-everything are the only gifts worth giving? We've compiled some of the best giftable foods we could get our hands on (and sink our teeth into) -- nary a stale mail-order item in sight. Flip through our gallery of gifts to whet your appetite.

Want gifts that don't come with an expiration date? Check out our gift guide for foodies and cooks. Also, check out all of our Christmas menus, recipes and entertaining tips. If you're all about cookies (who isn't?), we've got 25 days of Christmas cookies. If you want other sorts of sweets, check out Gail Simmons' Christmas desserts.

People who love to eat and cook often have a kitchen stocked with the essentials and possess an array of specialty gadgets or food-themed décor. So looking for a dinner party hostess gift or an on-point present for the passionate foodie in your life is often quite the challenge. This year, we've rounded up some of the coolest new tools and goodies we could find – items that are brand-new or unique – to make your holiday shopping just a little easier. What's even better? They're all under $50. Click through the gallery to see our top gift picks.

Hungry for more? Check out all of our Christmas menus, recipes and entertaining tips. If you're all about cookies (who isn't?), we've got 25 days of Christmas cookies. If you want other sorts of sweets, check out Gail Simmons' Christmas desserts.

Additional reporting by Lindsay Damast.

When it comes to giving a cookbook as a gift, there's no such thing as one size fits all -- sometimes you want a cookbook for a serious cook; sometimes you want a sweet-and-simple general-interest cookbook, and sometimes you want a cookbook for someone who doesn't actually cook but likes to read about cooking. We've asked T. Susan Chang -- food writer, cookbook reviewer for KitchenDaily and The Boston Globe, and a frequent contributor to NPR's Kitchen Window series -- to do the sorting for you. Here are her favorite gift-cookbook picks:

Cute little books for anybody:

• Tea and Cookies: Enjoy the Perfect Cup of Tea--with Dozens of Delectable Recipes for Teatime Treats, by Rick Rodgers (William Morrow, $21.99). Cookie cookbooks are a gift that keeps on giving, especially if you happen to be invited over for tea. A smart selection in a delightful package.

• Simply Ming One-Pot Meals: Quick, Healthy & Affordable Recipes, by Ming Tsai (Kyle Books, $29.95). Nobody likes cleaning pots. Keep it to a single one, with Asian-fusion how-tos from the cutest Chinese chef on TV.