When we asked our #BlogHerFood16 speakers, "Who has a recently published a book, or has one coming out soon?" I didn’t expect to want to read ALL THE FOOD BOOKS. But I found myself charmed by Kathy Strahs' new ideas for a vintage baking dish and intrigued by Kathy Hester's techniques for the Instant Pot. I was dazzled by Irvin Lin's desserts with a twist and absolutely fascinated by Toni Tipton-Martin's look at two centuries of African American cookbooks. Bookmark these 10 books as holiday gift ideas for your food-obsessed friends (or just put them on your own wishlist).
The 8x8 Cookbook: Square Meals for Weeknight Family Dinners, Desserts and More—in One Perfect 8x8-Inch Dish
Kathy Strahs' latest cookbook is the first release from her very own publishing company, Burnt Cheese Press. The genius idea behind it is that the 8-by-8-inch dish you pull out for brownies and maybe lasagna is capable of so much more—and she's stuffed her book with recipes for everything from killer potluck dishes to make-and-freeze dinners, along with an ode to vintage Pyrex.
Back to the Kitchen: 75 Delicious, Real Recipes (& True Stories) from a Food-Obsessed Actor
Just your basic family cookbook—if you happen to be actor Freddie Prinze, Jr., and your family happens to include Sarah Michelle Gellar. This charming tome shares kid-friendly food tips and recipes that show off both Freddie's culinary education and his New Mexico roots, along with items like "Parker Posey's Pancakes."
Danielle Walker's Against All Grain Celebrations: A Year of Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Paleo Recipes for Every Occasion
Parties can be their own circle of hell if you're not into grains or dairy. But the latest in Danielle Walker's Against All Grain cookbook series is here for all your festive needs, with recipes for everything from birthday cakes to holiday cookies—even an impressive grain-free paleo "corn bread" for the Thanksgiving table (how did she do that?).
Food Swap: Specialty Recipes for Bartering, Sharing & Giving ― Including the World’s Best Salted Caramel Sauce
As the founder of one of the biggest food swap groups in the U.S., Emily Paster knows whereof she speaks. Her book is an excellent guide to creating or joining a swap group of your own, and you should, because they're fun. Her recipes for homemade goods go way beyond holiday cookies (I'd so call dibs on her cultured butter). And her clever packaging tips will set you up right for holiday gift-giving, too.
Hungry Girl Clean & Hungry: Easy All-Natural Recipes for Healthy Eating in the Real World
Lisa Lillien's Hungry Girl brand began with an email and grew to an empire, including a TV show and 11 cookbooks, of techniques and tips for healthy eating. Her latest cookbook is her first containing all-clean ingredients, including 90 vegetarian recipes. But her trademark "make it easy" approach is still present in full force: 56 of her recipes take 30 minutes or less, and 43 contain with five or fewer ingredients.
The Jemima Code: Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks
Toni Tipton-Martin's James Beard Award-winning work is an exploration of history and heritage through 150 cookbooks published by African American authors. These writer-cooks were teachers, entrepreneurs, culinary innovators, and activists, and Toni's examination of their legacy is a compelling response to the "Aunt Jemima" stereotype. It's also a grand gift idea for anyone into food, culture, and history.
Marbled, Swirled, and Layered: 150 Recipes and Variations for Artful Bars, Cookies, Pies, Cakes, and More
Check out the cover recipe on blogger-photographer Irvin Lin's cookbook, coming out November 1: It looks the most upscale version of Hostess cupcake imaginable. These 150 dessert recipes all have some ingenious twist that would make them a showstopper (to borrow a "Great British Bake-Off" term, RIP) on your holiday table. And, of course, they're brilliantly photographed.
Pure Delicious: More Than 150 Delectable Allergen-Free Recipes Without Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts,…
If you or a family member has severe food allergies like Heather Christo and her two daughters do, cooking and eating can be serious business. But Heather's mission is to teach others struggling with allergies how to live a joyful and easy life, and her recipes are designed to make people happy with their food. (If you're an autumn person, the pumpkin layer cake with maple frosting and salted caramel drizzle will make you very happy, indeed.)
Sweet Celebrations: A My Cupcake Addiction Cookbook
Elise Strachan is the creator and host of the hugely popular My Cupcake Addiction YouTube baking show. Her latest cookbook, out October 25, shares a year's worth of excellent party ideas, with dessert and drink recipes and entertainment tips sprinkled throughout. My favorite part: The "small bake" and "no bake" options for time-strapped hosts. So smart.
The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook for Your Instant Pot: 80 Easy and Delicious Plant-Based Recipes That You Can Make in Half the…
If you don't know what an Instant Pot is, think slow cooker plus pressure cooker plus rice cooker plus steamer (plus some more functions), all in one magical contraption. Kathy Hester's upcoming cookbook (out January 10, 2017) demonstrates wizard-level mastery of the Instant Pot's features, adapted for the vegan cook—including ways to make your own non-dairy yogurt.