Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Cooking Editor, Rebecca A. Staffel These are the books our editors have spilled flour and butter on, dropped into the sink, and read to friends over the telephone--in short, the books we'd most like to share with others. Whether you're looking for a gift for yourself or someone else, you can't miss with one of our picks of 1999. 1. "The Italian Country Table: Home Cooking from Italy's Farmhouse Kitchens" by Lynne Rossetto Kasper http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684813254/entertainmentsit Kasper is a brilliant culinary anthropologist, sharing stories and recipes gleaned from years of traveling up and down the boot in search of soul-satisfying Italian home cooking. Is it a book to read, or a book to cook from? Happily, you don't have to choose--"The Italian Country Table" will travel from your kitchen counter to your bedside stand and back again. 2. "Cooking with the 60-Minute Gourmet: 300 Rediscovered Recipes from Pierre Franey's Classic New York Times Column" by Pierre Franey and Bryan Miller http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812930940/entertainmentsit Taken from years of regular columns in the New York Times, "Cooking with the 60-Minute Gourmet" is an elevated form of everyday cuisine. With Franey and Miller as your guides, your weekday dinner choices will be both stylish and delicious without making you a slave to the stove. 3. "The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen: Classic Family Recipes for Celebration and Healing" by Grace Young http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684847396/entertainmentsit First-time author Grace Young has woven a delicious memoir of family stories within her marvelous cookbook, "The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen." Indeed, it's difficult to know whether you should head for the kitchen or a comfy armchair when you first encounter the book--the recipes are tantalizing yet straightforward, and the stories of growing up in San Francisco's Chinatown are just delightful. 4. "The Cook and the Gardener: A Year of Recipes and Writings for the French Countryside" by Amanda Hesser http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393046680/entertainmentsit Young American chef meets old French gardener. He rebuffs. She respects, yet perseveres. Finally, he's won over, shares wisdom and delectable produce. A friendship is slowly born. It seems like a stale story, yet in Amanda Hesser's "The Cook and the Gardener," it's fresh and tasty, too. Hesser's tales of the seasons in M. Milbert's garden, accompanied by 250 simple and accessible recipes, make this a must-have for every cook or gardener in your life. 5. "Cooking to Beat the Clock: Inspired Meals in 15 Minutes" by Sam Gugino http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0811818608/entertainmentsit If your idea of fixing a weeknight meal is using the speed dial to call your local pizza shack, we've got just the book for you! Journalist, restaurateur, and cookbook author Sam Gugino comes to the rescue with "Cooking to Beat the Clock." Too good to be true, you wonder? Well, okay, our 15 minutes often stretch to 20--but when was the last time you put delicious bouillabaisse on the table in 20 minutes? This book's a keeper. 6. "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook" by Ina Garten http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0609602195/entertainmentsit Where does Martha Stewart go for takeout? Taste Ina Garten's Cheddar-Dill Scones and you'll know why The Barefoot Contessa is a destination for weekending foodies. This book hasn't left our bestseller lists since its debut. Beautiful but unfussy photography and terrific recipes for fresh salads and baked goods make this a real workbook of a cookbook. 7. "Italian Festival Food: Recipes and Traditions from Italy's Regional Country Food Fairs" by Anne Bianchi http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0028623320/entertainmentsit This book wins our vote for sleeper hit of the year. Italian food writer and cooking teacher Anne Bianchi has visited Italy's 18 regions and returned with over 200 festival recipes. These are not only uniquely good, they also illuminate vital culinary traditions. Lovers of authentic Italian cooking and food culture will find "Italian Festival Food" a treasure. 8. "A Spoonful of Ginger: Irresistible Health-Giving Recipes from Asian Kitchens" by Nina Simonds http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375400362/entertainmentsit The quest for a healthy, balanced life shouldn't stop at the dinner table--in fact, according to Nina Simonds, author of "A Spoonful of Ginger," the table is exactly where you should start. Simonds, who also wrote the Amazon.com bestseller "Asian Noodles," has created an amazingly accessible and delicious cookbook of Asian food based on the philosophy of balancing yin (cooling) and yang (warming) foods for better health and well-being. 9. "Simply Sensational Desserts" by Francois Payard http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0767903587/entertainmentsit The title gets it exactly right: "Simply Sensational Desserts" is a dream book for the home baker. Follow chef Francois Payard's detailed instructions to make your own Chocolate Hedgehog or Pistachio Tuiles and amaze your friends and family with your pastry talents! Better yet, give it to a friend and reap the tasty rewards. 10. "Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home" by Julia Child and Jacques Pepin http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375404317/entertainmentsit The queen and king of public television cooking shows have joined forces in "Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home." The companion volume to Julia Child and Jacques Pepin's new PBS series of the same name, this beautifully illustrated volume features a "he says-she says" approach to cooking. Fans of the new show and old admirers alike will delight in eavesdropping on the discussion (and sometimes disagreement) between Julia and Jacques. Invite them into your kitchen and settle in for a delicious lesson in French home cooking from the masters. ****** Looking for power tools? From screwdrivers to scroll saws, our brand-new Home Improvement Store offers the planet's best selection of tools and more. Home Improvement ****** You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and interviews in Amazon.com's Cooking, Food & Wine section at Cooking, Food & Wine ******
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