The Christmas Haul

I'm easy to shop for. I keep an extensive and current Amazon wishlist, but besides that get me a cookbook or kitchen item and you've done well. Which is why I feel like I made out like a bandit at Christmas. New food processor - thanks, Ed! Several kitcheny goods - new cake tester, onion goggles, pie dams, cookie scoop, etc. And a big stack of cookbooks.

I've been taking them to bed for my night reading, and they've inspired my dreams. The lists - so many lists! - have begun. It's just a matter of where to start, what to make when. So to let you know what we have to look forward to in 2010 (in addition to all the cookbooks and magazines I already have stacked up), here are my new sources:

The Great American Bake Sale by Alison Boteler - "Recipes for nearly 100 different taste-tempting delicacies you can't buy anywhere...except at a bake sale."

How Baking Works by Paula Figoni - Looks and reads like a textbook for a college food science course, but I really needed something like this. So when those darn Double Maple Cupcakes I've tried three times still aren't right, I can look to the science and make some educated attempts to correct them. I'd love - LOVE - to someday understand enough to make my own recipes.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois - I've heard lots of raves about this one and now I can try it myself! Too bad for Ed he's cutting back on carbs.

Williams-Sonoma Muffins - This one I've read cover-to-cover at least five times since Christmas. It has mostly simple muffins, but great reviews so I have high expectations.

Field Guide to Cookies by Anita Chu - "How to identify and bake virtually every cookie imaginable." A tall claim; we'll see if it lives up.

Chocolate Epiphany by Francois Payard - "Exceptional cookies, cakes and confections for everyone." Many of the recipes look more intense than I usually like to go but we'll see; I haven't delved deeply into it yet.

Ratio by Michael Ruhlman - "The simple codes behind the craft of everyday cooking." Again, help on the science side of how to make what without totally depending on recipes.

All Cakes Considered by Melissa Gray - "A year's worth of weekly recipes tested, tasted and approved by the staff of NPR's All Things Considered." And "how to keep your co-workers happy, friendly and fatter than you!" I'm on page 30. Read the foreword, introduction and first recipe with unabetted delight. I like this girl - I can relate to her - and I can't wait to dig in! And on top of all that, the book design, food styling and photography are all stunning. You WILL be seeing cakes from this book on here soon.