Filed under: Books , Australia , Cookbook of the Day When I mentioned that the chef I would most like to have cook for me is Bill Granger , it did not immediately occur to me that some people are unfamiliar with him. He is an exceptionally talented Australian cook whose style is of simple, fresh food with clean tastes and, of course, an Aussie flair. I bought a copy of Sydney Food when I first visited his restaurant in Sydney, bills . The cookbook, which includes all the favorites from the cafe menu, is beautifully put together , with straightforward instructions and mouthwatering illustrations. Since it is an Aussie cookbook, you will want to either have a scale or a conversion chart with you when you cook from it, or just try one of his newer cookbooks, like bills food .

Filed under: Vegetarian , Vegan , Books , Cookbook of the Day Vegan cooking may sound intimidating - or possibly unappetizing - at first, but I assure you that it's not. After all, there are lots of things that even omnivores eat on a regular basis that are vegan, like salads, pasta sauces and even cakes , that happen to be vegan and don't get the name attached to them. Vegan with a Vengeance is a book with over 150 excellent recipes that can certainly stand on their own without having to qualify a "yum!" with an excuse about it being vegan. The recipes are, for the most part, inexpensive and easy. One of the things that is great about it is that, unlike some other vegan cookbooks, there are quite a few recipes for cookies and other baked goods. Check out the ginger cookies and the stunning "fauxstess" cupcakes  at Rae's blog, bunnyfoot , where she sampled a few of the recipes from the cookbook with excellent results. It is a fantastic book to get if you want to have a vegetarian meal once in a while to give your diet (and your family's) some variety, not just if you're vegan. It is also a very useful book to have if you are dealing with allergies to dairy or eggs. If you actually are vegan, however, this is a "must have" in your cookbook collection.

Filed under: Chocolate , Books , Cookbook of the Day Alice Medrich must be one of the most talented pastry chefs to have ever published a cookbook. "Pastry chef" seems like a better description than "baker" because, though she bakes, she specializes in chocolate. Bittersweet: Recipes and Tales from a Life in Chocolate is an exceptional work from her and won the IACP awards for Best Single Subject Cookbook and Cookbook of the Year in 2004, after the book was released. The book covers different types of chocolate, detailing levels of sweetness and types of cocoas, and provides a wealth of information on how to work with it, including troubleshooting common problems. Not only does it cover the topics, but Medrich explains the difficult nature of chocolate in an extremely eloquent way, something which not all writers who have tackled the topic can claim. While her prose is detailed, it pales in comparison to the level of specificity that Medrich applies in her recipes. While it may seem intimidating at first glance, the recipes are still very readable and can walk the cook through from start to finish of some of the most mouthwatering chocolate creations you can imagine. The book is also full of stunning illustrations, should you need any encouragement to attempt the recipes.

Filed under: Books , Cookbook of the Day 50 Great Curries of India is a beautifully presented book of authentic, Indian curries. While there are fifty curries in the book, there are more than fifty recipes, as rice, beans, breads and condiments (such as chutneys) are also included. The history, geography, and the philosophy of each dish are eloquently presented and all vary dramatically in taste and in origin, despite the fact that they are all known as types of curries. Also included in the book is a detailed guide to spices and ingredients, which can help not only in preparing the recipes, but in just improving general knowledge about the various components of Indian cuisine. This particular edition of the book is the paperback version of the 10th Anniversary edition and the multiple printings (not to mention the success of the book in Britain, where it has sold thousands of copies) are a testament to the book's quality and longevity.

Filed under: Books , Grilling , Cookbook of the Day Just about everything that can be grilled is grilled by Steven Raichlen in the pages of How to Grill . It isn't subtitled "The complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques" for nothing. Raichlen starts with the basics and covers everything from burgers to brisket to creme brulee. Even experienced grillers will be sure to learn something new, whether it's about proper tying techniques or cold smoking. I like the fact that it is available paperback, since I can't really picture lugging around a heavy, shiny hardback book back and forth to the grill. Paperback seems more casual, more grill-appropriate. So, while you're tackling Sarah's question about charcoal versus gas , (which Raichlen also goes over in this book) you might as well start bookmarking all the recipes you want to try.

Filed under: Breakfast , Books , Cookbook of the Day I know that we just had a breakfast book , but there is no time like Monday to remind everyone that a breakfast is the best way to start your day. Or your week. Of course, as the book says on its cover, you can certainly have it at any time of day. A Real American Breakfast has over 250 recipes and the chapters are broken down by categories, so it's easy to find the type of food that will suit your appetite. While the book does have the standard pancake and waffle recipes that are typical of breakfast cookbooks, it offers a lot more, from smoothies to hearty strata (casserole-type dishes). There are so many options that kitchen could eventually replace your local diner as your favorite place for satisfying, breakfast-oriented comfort foods.

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Filed under: Books , Baking , Cookbook of the Day Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook is Martha's most up-to-date baking compendium. Unlike some of her early cookbooks this one is illustrated with mouthwatering photos of the recipes, and though many of her older books willcontinue to be staples in my kitchen, it is a lovely touch and makes the book that much more pleasurable just to flip through. The book is appropriate for both novices and experienced bakers because there are step-by-step recipe guides, equipment tips and lots of basic recipes, as well as more complex multi-component projects. This also means that there is a lot of opportunity to increase your skill level without having to buy multiple books. If you want to sample a few of the recipes, Chubby Hubby has the divine-looking Carrot-Ginger Cupcakes and you can see a video of Martha's French Almond Macaroons being prepared with Katie Couric on the Today show a few months ago.

Filed under: Dessert , Books , Retro cookery , Cookbook of the Day Retro Desserts , by Wayne Harley Brachman, is one of my favorite cookbooks. I love Brachman's easy writing style and the illustrations of the desserts are fantastic. He dots the book with bits of trivia about the names and origins of dishes. I only wish that the book was even longer! This is not Brachman's newest cookbook, but it is an excellent one. The recipes are all his versions of favorites from the '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s, and include everything from Grasshopper Pie to Diner-Style Strawberry Shortcake.

Filed under: Books , Cookbook of the Day Sunday Suppers at Lucques: Seasonal Recipes from Market to Table  won this year's Best Cookbook title at the James Beard Awards . The book is set up as a series of menus, divided by season so that each menu reflects only things that are at their peak at that time of year. Throughout the book, author Suzanne Goin tells you how to look for and select the best ingredients from local markets, all while peppering the text with anecdotes. Novice chefs beware, though: these suppers are not the sort that you'll find on 30 Minute Meals, but the instructions are detailed enough that, with a bit of work, there is no doubt you'll pull off something delicious, wonderful, comforting Sunday supper.