The drive to make culinary magic in the kitchen doesn't come cheap or easy. A dish is really only as good as it's ingredients and tools -- and the inspiration behind it. In other words, good cooking is often simple, but it can't really be faked. So treat the amateur chef in your life to some gourmet goodies that will help them keep their kitchen lit up through the year.
How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman ($36)
From the ultimate how-to man in the kitchen comes a new comprehensive resource for the baker. It’s got over 2,000 recipes spanning homespun favourites to trendy treats like whoopie pies. This is a crash course in a book if ever there was one. Bittman walks you through advice on essential equipment, subbing ingredients and recipe backgrounds with technique illustrations. (In search of more cookbooks to gift? We’ve got eight here.)
