Delicious Cookbooks discussed on December 10th.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is a homespun collection of photography, rural stories, and scrumptious recipes that have defined my experience in the country. I share many of the delicious cowboy-tested recipes I've learned to make during my years as an accidental ranch wife?including Rib-Eye Steak with Whiskey Cream Sauce, Lasagna, Fried Chicken, Patsy's Blackberry Cobbler, and Cinnamon Rolls?not to mention several "cowgirl-friendly" dishes, such as Sherried Tomato Soup, Olive Cheese Bread, and Creme Brule. I show my recipes in full color, step-by-step detail, so it's as easy as pie to follow along. You'll also find colorful images of rural life: cows, horses, country kids, and plenty of chaps-wearing cowboys. I hope you get a kick out of this book of mine. I hope it makes you smile. I hope the recipes bring you recognition, accolades, and marriage proposals. And I hope it encourages even the most harried urban cook to slow down, relish the joys of family, nature, and great food, and enjoy life.

In The New American Table, " Samuelsson takes you on a journey of the inspired food of the United States, his beloved adopted country. Acclaimed for the distinct and diverse cuisine he has created at Aquavit and Riingo, Samuelsson shares more than 300 recipes that embody the uniquely inclusive spirit of American cuisine, from high-end fare to street food; down-home Southern cooking to Southwestern flavors to Asian cuisines, and beyond. In this new book, he explores the full spectrum of this regional American cooking that he has grown to love, meeting people along the way who have brought wonderful foods to their new home and to the receptive American people who have opened their minds and hearts to new foods and new cultures, including Green Salsa, to serve over shrimp or as a dip Breakfast Burritos Salmon Flatbread Tempura Crab Salad with Tamarind-Soy Vinaigrette Soy-Glazed Dumplings with Sweet Chile Sauce Chicken Sate with Baby Spinach and Garlic Feta Dip Turkey Meatloaf with Tomato-Spinach Sauce Beer-Braised Short Ribs Rustic Chocolate Tart Red Berry Cobbler A true celebration of the culinary gifts that define "The New American Table," this book is accompanied by stunning food and travel photographs documenting Samuelsson's journeys across America and his discovery of the flavors of a nation. Drawing on his own rich cultural heritage, he has created an exciting tribute to the wide range of cultural influences and culinary traditions that have shaped modern American cuisine. "The New American Table" presents Samuelsson's interpretation of the food that has evolved from these diverse traditions-a contemporary, original, and uniquely American cuisine.

France's "Joy of Cooking" The bible of French home cooking, Je Sais Cuisiner, has sold over 6 million copies since it was first published in 1932. It is a household must-have, and a well-thumbed copy can be found in kitchens throughout France. Its author, Ginette Mathiot, published more than 30 recipe books in her lifetime, and this is her magnum opus. It's now available for the first time in English as I Know How to Cook. With more than 1,400 easy-to-follow recipes for every occasion, it is an authoritative compendium of every classic French dish, from croque monsieur to cassoulet. Clear, practical and comprehensive, it is an essential guide to the best home cooking in the world: no cuisine is better than French at bringing the very best out of ingredients to create simple, comforting and delicious dishes. The recipes have been carefully updated by a team of editors led by Parisian food writer Clotilde Dusoulier, to suit modern readers and their kitchens, while preserving the integrity of the original book. The great reputation of I Know How to Cook has been built over three generations by the fact that it is a genuine cookbook: each recipe has been cooked many times, and because it is used by domestic cooks rather than chefs. And with its breadth of recipes and knowledge of techniques, I Know How to Cook doesn't just teach you how to cook French, it teaches you how to cook, period.