Holidays Books

As a mom of two, this book is so very helpful to navigate the parenting obstacles we encounter every day. Sharon Duke Estroff brillantly guides parents with humor and passion. Once you pick up this book you won't be able to put it down. LOVE IT! Thank you to the author.

There are so many reasons why I loved this book, but one of my top five is the Lego analogy. Parenting is like Legos, the author explains. "When you first dump the contents of the package on the playroom floor you feel overwhelmed and perplexed. You don't know if you're trying to build a spaceship or a castle. It's not until you see the big picture on the front of the Lego box that all those disconnected plastic bricks take on new meaning as a totally cool medieval fortress. That glimpse at the final goal - while admittedly a bit daunting at first - ultimately gives us the faith, inspiration and direction we need to begin building our Camelot." This book helps parents take a good hard look at the big picture and shows them how they can use it to their family's benefit.

My mother gave me this book for Chanukah and I read the first three chapters before the candles burnt out. (Really!) Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah isn't just great because it's a fun and easy read, it's also packed with helpful advice. The author is a professional educator but she's also a mom who totally gets what it's like to raise kids today. One of my favorite chapters was "Countdown to Kindergarten" since I have a child who will be starting kindergarten next year. I also love the social chapters called "Pladate Protocol" and "Surviving the Schoolyard Social Jungle". I know that as my son gets older the chapters on school, homework and the internet will be invaluable to me. As a Jewish mom I also enjoyed the holiday by holiday guide. A fun read packed with tons of practical, useful information. What more could you ask for in a parenting book?!

This is the first book of our generation that puts parenting into a realistic, sane perspective. It acknowledges all the challenges and noise that we have to deal with as we raise kids. It puts into very simple and funny terms how ridiculous the standards are that we are foisting upon our children. Its like a cup of coffee with a good friend that sets you straight when you're feeling down on yourself for not having the family you see in advertisements. Uniquely refreshing and easy to read, this book is a great gift to new moms and struggling moms as a place to turn when they need a positive attitude adjustment.

I read Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah in one afternoon. I could not put it down! Sharon Duke Estroff really helps parents navigate "parenthood." I highly recommend this book for all parents!

This book is great! It is an easy and very enjoyable read! I recommend it to anyone traveling to China or for pure amusement. I have read many books about china and this has to be the best one yet!!

I bought this as a gift. It turned out to be a delightfully helpful little guide for the recipients.

Larry and Qin Herzberg have managed to create an inexpensive, easy-to-carry but highly informative--and very humorous--guidebook. It seems to me to stand by itself in terms of genre. Derived from many experiences of taking student groups to China, taking his own private trips including some with his wife Qin, and creating an insightful documentary video on China today (a joint project of the two), this little book is full of sound advice for novice travelers/first time tourists and seasoned businessmen alike. One of the most valuable parts is the short introduction to the Chinese language, incuding an appropriate (i.e. ralistically manageable)number of useful Chinese phrases. So before you go to China get ahold of this book; you will not be sorry--I guarantee it!

I just moved to Shanghai a month ago and bought several books beforehand to familiarize myself with the culture and etiquette. A friend of mine gave me this one as a going away present. I read it on the plane over (cover to cover - it's a short book) and it was the most candid and informative books on China that I've read so far. Larry writes in a story-like format so it keeps your attention and helps you retain the info better. The encyclopedia-like guide books just don't keep me engaged after the first few chapters. His amusing anecdotes help portray Chinese life and accurately describe the people, customs and culture. I would highly recommend this book to anyone visiting or moving to China. I've convinced my family and friends to buy the book to help prepare them for the culture shock when they visit.

I just returned from my first trip to China, so this is not a theoretical review of how helpful the Herzberg's book is. I began using their tips from the moment we set foot in the Guilin airport. (It's empowering to know where to find the toilet paper!) We encountered various situations that should have been strange to me, but weren't. Some of my fellow travelers wondered how I knew what I knew. I don't know what guidebooks they had read, but they clearly didn't contain the same down-to-earth, real life info that the "China Survival Guide" does. (The book gets bonus points for being small and for being written in a truly entertaining manner.)

WOW !! I loved this story. I loved every part of it. The hope, the spirit and the gift of people. I will add it to may collection of books to read every year to my children and grandchildren. Makes a wonderful gift too!!

Book was just as expected - delivered in timely manner - very pleased with purchase - thanks!

I bought candles and copies of the book for all my office mates as well as for my children. This Christmas eve, we opened stockings to lighted candles and read the book aloud. My three adult daughters and husbands were a little wary, but soon the story took over. In many ways, it is another version of a Christmas Carol. But the story's power and images enforce the message again, that we are all one family, sharing in the light of the special Christmas candle. The experience shared with my children will create a tradition for us...next year, they will all receive carved boxes, and we will read The Christmas Box, together.

Beautiful cover. Am saving the book for Christmas when we read a number of Christmas stories. Look forwrd to it with anticipation.

This is an excellent book. It has a wonderful message all of us, old and young alike, can use for our everyday lives. A great moral!! I recommend this for any age group.

This Christmas journal kept me awake several nights during holidays, keeping notes, writing down heirloom receipies and memories of my childhood Christmas and those of my parents,sticking old photos and using it both as a journal and a scrab book, proceedings that I love to do!
It gave a joyfull tone to my Christmas this year,and as it was the first Christmas as a family of four,in this journal I will record my childrens' first Christmas! I can't wait for the next Seasons to come, so I can give it to them to draw,stick or write something in it, so that everybody will remember for the years and generations to come! That's why I wished for more free space and less lines in it, so more photos and every kind of Christmas souvenirs can be holded in. Whith its present form demands a lot of writing(it is a journal after all),something that averts you to give it as a present,as not all people love to write(especially during holidays).

I received my first Mary Engelbreit Christmas Journal way back in 1996 as a gift from my sister. Already a fan of Mary Engelbreit, and journaling, this was the perfect gift for me! 1996 was a banner year for me, as I had just recently gotten married and my husband and I were eagerly sharing old Christmas traditions while starting some new ones.

This journal comes with two parts: Part 1 is entitled "Memories of Christmas Past" with sections including "How my parents celebrated", "My childhood Christmases", favorite photographs, recipes, and so on. Generous room provided for your answers.

Part II is entitled "Five Year Christmas Journal", and as indicated, follows with 5 sections for five years worth of memories. Each yearly chapter is broken down into: "Preparations for the Season", "Seasonal Fun", "Celebrating Christmas", and "Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead". Each of these sections provides thoughtful entry "starters" with plenty of room for elaboration. Also included is a red satin ribbon page marker, which is helpful.

I cannot express how very valuable this journal has been for myself and my family. After the first 5 years, I lucked out and found a stack on sale at a local bookstore -- without hesitation I bought enough for the next 20 years!

When I started this journal in 1996, I was newly married. 10 years later now (and just about to begin my 3rd journal!), my husband and I have three children, 2 cats and a dog (we even have Santa pictures with our pets occasionally included, LOL). The memories I have recorded for posterity are absolutely priceless. Every year I re-read previous entries and always think "I am SO glad I wrote that, I would have never remembered!".

Whether or not you are a Mary Engelbreit fan, this Christmas journal (and I've seen lots of them) is an absolute must-have for those hoping to preserve favorite holiday memories over the years.

Merry Christmas!

This is a great item! We are really happy with this Christmas Journal. This is a great bargain and a really thoughftul gift! We are looking forward to building memories & traditions & saving them so they may be cherished for years to come. You are buying much more than a book with this purchase. It is well worth the small price tag for what we got in return.

My wife and I got married just over a year ago. We bought our first home, and a little puggle (dog) at about the same time. Christmas came really fast last year with all the things going on at once. We now are looking to start a family, and really wanted to slow down and relax this time around as Christams approached. We have been focusing on the Holiday, decorating the house, getting into the season, starting our own traditions and enjoying time together over the holiday. We were really looking for a way to organize our thoughts and come up with our own Christmas traditions & routines. We felt a little like amatures. Although we both have enjoyed many Christmases, it is a little different now. No more depending on our parents...now we are the grown ups & it's our turn to orchestrate the festivities around the Holidays.

This Christmas Journal gave us exactly what we were looking for. We are enjoying it tremendously and look forward to continue filling it with our photos, memories, ideas & traditions, and then returning to it year after year. I definitely recommend it, and plan to buy more in the future to fill our years after year 5. I also think it makes a great gift, and we have decided we should buy some as special gifts to friends and family in the future.

I've had my journal for 5 years, and I have enjoyed pulling it out every year after Thanksgiving and (reluctantly) putting it away in January. It is so easy to keep up - great for busy people like me. The layout is simple and yet detailed. The beginning of the book records childhood memories and has space for a mass Christmas card list. Subsequent chapters cover each year up to five. I use the calendar to organize myself and have had a great time looking back on previous years where I recorded activities and special moments I had since forgotten - many very happy, some very sad, moments with people who are no longer here. Even the years when I felt little Christmas cheer, I always opened that book, and there is a comforting constancy to that. A tip from me. . . choose a favorite Christmas card every year that you have received from someone and tuck it in the book at the beginning of the chapter for that year. Another tip. . . buy the book - needless to say, I am online right now to order mine.

I am so glad to have found this Christmas Journal on Amazon. I got it 5 years ago and have recorded so many memories on it. It is the only time my family writes a journal, and the layout of the book is so inspiring. I am buying two for myself this year, and one for my sister. Glad to see it is still in print!

Susan Neider's Guide to the Colorado Plateau gets it exactly right. Read this book - or even just look at it - and you are itching to get on the road! The stunning pictures tell you where you'd love to go and the logical and readable maps and the clever photo icons show you just how to do it. After you make your travel reservations, go back and really read the book. The pictures will reward much careful looking and the literate, informative text is filled with useful and unusual details on the history and geology of the region. This book informs without clutter or preachy wordiness. And when you are finished with your trip, you'll have an unbeatable souvenir - though it is likely to be worn out! No matter, you will likely, like me, log on and buy another! The price is right, too, it won't break the bank. This book is an excellent value. Great job, Ms. Neider, thanks!

The best book of its kind and it delivers a remarkable balance of informative text, readable maps, and wonderful photos. This is much more than your normal guide book - it is a portfolio of why I love this place. There is a great deal of information that I haven't found anywhere else - or at least not from the same reference. I now have a copy to carry with me, and a copy to keep displayed in the house.

I took Susan Neider's wonderful Color Country on our family's recent trip out west. We had never been there before, and traveling with Ms. Neider's book was like having our own personal tour guide. She tells you where all the "not to be missed" spots are in each park, and even the best time to see them. Then she provides great maps that make it foolproof to get there. We were never lost even once. We particularly appreciated the scenic route she recommends for approaching Monument Valley, and the detour to Goosenecks State Park, a wonderful spot our other guidebooks didn't even mention. And there was just the right amount of information about the geology of each area to keep us informed, and so well explained that we were still interested. She gives each site a Child Rating for its interest to children, and we found these to be spot-on. For example, she rates Mesa Verde a "5" (the highest child rating), and we all loved it. And now that we're home, Color Country has become our favorite souvenir. The photos are just plain amazing. This book is worth the price just for the portfolio of photographs alone.

[...] Color Country provides travelers to the Colorado Plateau of Utah with essential information to get the lay of the land, a concise explanation of the geology of each park, a list of highlights, and gorgeous, honest photographs of the places covered. Dirt and gravel roads are not the focus of this touring guide; those who want more detail about backcountry travel would be advised to read an expert such as Michael Kelsey. However, even remote places like Kolob and Needles are, in fact, mentioned in the copy I bought. For the traveler looking for a superb overview, this book cuts to the quick and captures the essence of each park with finely-conceived text and images. Rating this book with one star is like buying a Brooks Brothers suit and then complaining because it didn't hold up when you went rock climbing in it.

The photography is art and I am looking forward to our trip. I feel as if I've already been there.

Malcolm Henderson, a well-known resident of Bocas, has written a book that fully captures the lifestyle of the expat resident. With wit, irony and lots of heart, Don't Kill the Cow Too Quick (great title!) is a must-read for anyone considering an escape to paradise showing all the ups and downs of living in a new culture and trying to adapt to same.

Can't wait for the sequel!

Cindy Cody, author Hubba Hubba

Look at a map of Central America then zoom in on Panama. Just south of the border of Costa Rica on the Caribbean shore is the archipeligo of Bocas del Toro. As the author says, Bocas del Toro is like Key West was in the 1920's just getting noticed by tourist, retirees and developers. This is a small city on a tropical island with the surronding islands, coral reefs, beaches, small farms, tropical forests and mangroves, the area that Malcom Henderson and his wife settled to live the years of their life after age 60. This book is his story of finding the area, settling there and working to fit in by building a home in town and starting a ranch (finca) on the mainland.

Henderson has an unusual writing style, very personal, like writing a diary. Some of the chapters have abrupt endings that seem a bit odd in the way that perhaps your grandfather would have told a story that takes a while to register than you get the meaning of it. His writing flows better through the book and makes it hard to put down by the end. Henderson also has a well developed sense of humor and perhaps this follows from some of the laughable situations that he gets into that still maintain the admiration of his friends. I felt a sense of loss when I finished the book, wanting to continue to hear his stories about Panama and the people of the Bocas del Toro region.

I purchased this book mainly to learn more of this region from the expatriat's viewpoint but I picked up much more than that. Anyone moving to a foreign country should anticipate the potential conflict of gringo and latino, foreigner and national, impoverished and wealthy, and greedy and charitable. Henderson covers all of this and it is a tribute to this book that he tells it with insight, humor and is able to evoke some of the essence of the region for us.

I am looking forward to reading a book with the Panamanian's view of the changes in the Bocas del Toro region next.

Malcom gives the reader a real first hand view of Bocas. He is funny and hauman. Makes you want to move there.

This has been the first book that I have read cover to cover, except for techincal manuels. I enjoyed all of Malcolm's adventures. Having been in Bocas, I can relate to some of them.

I have just finished reading, for the second time, Malcolm Henderson's enchanting tour of a marvelous part of the world and his introduction to some wonderful people. Mr. Henderson has what other writers wish they had, the innate gift of being able to tell a story. In this delightful book Mr. Henderson displays the qualities of a Mark Twain, or Ambrose Bierce in that regard. This book would make an excellent addition to University classes in creative writing and psychology courses on social psychology. Mr. Henderson succeeds in taking us to Bocas Del Toro, sharing his relationships with interesting people, and engages us in the desire to live with and assist however we can, both the indigenous tribal natives and other Panamanians. He is candid in the things he probably should not have done, as well as in those things he did well. You will become engrossed in this book as it is truly a relaxing, entertaining, and informative work. Human behavior is remarkably different in different cultures and Mr. Henderson introduces us to a truly admirable culture in Panama, in a truly admirable manner. Sit back, read, enjoy. I look forward to other offerings by this author.

This is one of those must have items when you're facing a trip with your grandkids (that's TWO generations away from your own days on any wild ride) and I must say this guide to the park was enormously helpful even before we got there. Thanks a lot! Our trip was a huge success and Ms. Wiley's book gets a lot of the credit.

I first read an earlier version of this book several years ago, and Kim's sound advice has stayed with me, several trips on.

If you want to learn which rides to stay away from with young children, and what the must sees are, this is the book to read. And don't ignore Kim's most important tip of all. If you're travelling to Disney World with children, make sure you take that afternoon nap.

Catherine Noble
Webmaster
www.mywdwtrip.com

This is a really useful book, tons of tips, saved me a lot $$ and time. The most valuable thing I learn is to rent a multi-family vacation house with my friends, 16 people for $199 a day. We all enjoy the stay at a luxury emerald island resort. check this out: http://www.cyberrentals.com/index.cfm/property/126687

I purchased this book as a guide to help plan a 5 day trip to WDW with my family. We just got back and let me tell you this book saved us a lot of waiting time for the rides, helped us know what to see and where and how to focus our energy. Ms. Wiley is right on the mark in her descriptions of the attractions and her tips about getting around the parks. The book was so helpful, I tore out the sections about each park and took it with us into the park. This version is missing info that wasn't available at the time of printing about some of the newer shows Disney has put in for its 50th anniversary celebration. The Cinderellabration show is wonderful especially if you have a princess lover in your family and the Wishes fireworks display over the castle in the Magic Kingdom. I would highly recommend this book even if you've been to WDW before.

This book is a must read before and during your trip. It has great money saving ideas and is easy to understand. The scare factors are extremely useful if you have children under 10.

I happened on this book in the library and thought it was the best travel book I have ever used. This is nothing missed in this handbook. Great maps and advise.

Most of the "name brand" travel guides are for fly-by tourists (though I do appreciate Frommer's guides much more than the rest of the big names). Well, if those books are for tourists, then Moon's handbooks (along with Lonely Planet's guides) are for TRAVELERS. And Moon's Wyoming Handbook is, as others here have said, one of their best. It's thick, it's juicy, it's meaty, it's expansive, it's authoritative and wry. So wherever you are in that great big "empty" terrain, it's got some practical information for and historical and cultural insight into places all around.

Wyoming has fewer people than any other state (yes, fewer than Rhode Island and Alaska). But it's places of interest are many and varied, though scattered far and wide. You need a good guide and a GOOD READ to cover the miles and the days. I admire author Don Pitcher's efforts here.

If you choose one guidebook, make it Moon's Wyoming Handbook. If you'd like to get a second general guide to the region for comparison and cross-reference (including more descriptive listings of selected accommodations), I'd add Frommer's guide to Wyoming, which includes Montana as well.

By far the best guidebook to the entire state of Wyoming, with excellent detailed sections on Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The book, which is superior to some others in the Moon series, is a labor of love by the author for the land, people, and small towns of the state. Pitcher provides great detail on what to see everywhere; colorful local and regional histories; and affectionate, slightly tongue-in-cheek descriptions of small towns. Sure to enhance a visit of any length.

In preparation for our two-week trip to Wyoming, I purchased this book and read as much as I had time for beforehand. During our trip, I found it to be a handy reference for whatever area we were in (mostly Yellowstone/Grand Tetons). The detail is great and some of our lodging choices and attraction choices were made with reference to the book and it was always accurate. I highly recommend it for those heading to Wyoming.

An outstanding guide to a wonderful state. One book, of course, cannot cover all there is about any area this big, but this book does an outstanding job for Wyoming's history, lodging, attractions, background information, etc.

As for any area, it's good to supplement with other specialized topic and / or area guides, but for a general guide to a large state, this one does a great job.

Logically arranged, well-written, and very readable, you can almost read it straight through; it's one of the better travel guides available.

This will instantly become any young boy's favourite book, it's unreal! Girls will like it too and the pop ups are so engaging that it will even encourage any kids who don't usually like books to read - go and buy yourself a copy, you won't be sorry.

This is a fun read anytime of the year but it just seems fitting here at Halloween. Looking for something to give the little one other then candy this year? Give this book! It will last a lot longer and they will love it even more.
Both of my kids love this book! I was not sure how well it would hold up at first but after two years and a lot of abuse (pulling tabs to hard and having the monsters chase little hands) it is still in great condition. EXTREMELY well made pop-up book with little people in mind.

I was surprised at how quickly the book I ordered was sent to my house. Thank you for your quick response. Terri

Ages 3 and older will relish this scary pop-up title which is recommended for parent acquisition, as it probably won't withstand the rigors of library lending unless it's used as a display on a top shelf. Haunted House opens with a spooky pop-up staircase and moves to cover monsters and even an octopus in the bathroom. It arrived too late for Halloween mention but deserves pick as a 'keeper' for next year.

I bought this fun book after I read the favorable reviews here, and I am a halloween nut. My kids and I love this book! The pop-ups are awesome and the quality of the book is excellent. What I am not quite sure of is the dialoge/storyline that goes with it. I have looked at and read this book numerous times and still have no clue who the "doctor" is...is it Dr.Frankenstein? Dr. Doolittle perhaps? I am left anxious with no idea who the mysterious doctor is and in the last page, just where did he go? I am thinking he is in the wooden box heading for Translyvania and trying in vain to saw himself out - yet when I peek into the box, I see no doctor, just a bomb with a lit fuse! Cool pop-ups but pretty bizarre story to go along with it.

This is the one cookbook that has not gone on the shelf, but instead sits on the corner of the counter. So far I've made the beef burgundy, pan roasted chicken, smothered pork chops, lemon meringue pie, macaroni and cheese, nachos with salsa and guacamole, and more. I'd've done more in the past two weeks, but I do have a job to go to. These may not sound like extraordinary recipes - they're all in my Betty Crocker cookbook or Good Housekeeping cookbook - but this is the cookbook that tells you the how and why, what works and what doesn't work (based on their own testing, which is an interesting read in itself). One of the things I like most is that they make an honest effort and usually succeed at restricting themselves to ingredients found in nearly every supermarket. Serving sizes are extremely generous. I ate nachos for four days --- luckily, they were delicious.

I do wish they would include nutritional analyses. These recipes are all about taste and optimal preparation to ensure the best results; nothing particularly low cal or low carb and certainly not low fat here; and it doesn't purport to be a diet cookbook. That's okay, but it would still be nice to have the numbers. And it would be nice if they would test a few ways of cutting calories and/or carbs and/or fat while developing the best recipe.

As a novice, I also got tripped up in the pan roasted chicken because the recipe didn't give me even a clue as to how long the pieces would be in the oven; I guessed about 30 minutes but turned out to be 50 minutes to get to temperature, which threw off the timing on the side dishes...minor, novice issue.

Finally, I also subscribe to Cook's Illustrated published by the same people. In the Nov/Dec issue was an incredible recipe for pumpkin cheesecake (beg, borrow or steal it from someone). Their technique explanation ranted about the wonders of cooking a cheesecake in a waterbath. Indeed it made a great difference. But in this cookbook, there's a recipe for a New York Style Cheesecake with no mention of a waterbath. I'm not a pro, so maybe the different techniques deliver two distinct textures, but it was curious why both ways aren't discussed in the cookbook since they touted it in the magazine (or vice versa).

I've bought a couple pieces of their recommended equipment and believe they've been right on target there too.

It's an impressive book that has pursuaded me to buy both the Italian Classics Cookbook and the cookbook for the 2002 television series. Looking forward to receiving those soon.

As a beginner with cooking, this book has led me places I never thought I'd go. It has been a guide for the basics and an inspiration for the heights. And meanwhile it saves me money by steering me away from useless gadgets and fad techniques.

This is my third Amerca's Test Kitchen cookbook. In all of the meals that I have cooked using these books, I have never had a flop. As a male and a physician, I really appreciate the "clinical" approach to cooking that ATK applies. Want to make good, gooey chocolate cookies? Then try a dozen different methods and see what works best. They have used this method for all of their recipes, and the reaults are tremendous.

ATK avoids pretentious cuisine. They aim to make the best steak, best french-fries; things that my kids will eat. Yet, some of my favorite meals for guests come from the book as well. (Twice-coked potatoes with pesto...mmmm). Even though I live in a small town in a remote area, I have always been able to find the ingredients they suggest.

They have a "Consumer Reports"-like approach to rating ingredients and equipment. What a delight when Morton's table salt out-performs...sea-salt in blinded taste-testing.

I can't wait for next year's book to come out!

As someone who consider's themselves an elite "home chef", I stopped using recipe books years ago and just built on the basics that I'd gleaned from reading what I considered the "essential" cookbooks. Then, one stormy Saturday afternoon when the husband was at work and the kids were away at Grandma's, I stumbled on America's Test Kitchen on PBS. Needless to say, I loved what I saw.

Now I am a Cook's Illustrated fan. I have not come across anything done by these folks that isn't absolute quality cooking instruction - no matter what your level of cooking expertise. That's because ATK doesn't just write the recipes - they write articles and background about every recipe that breaks down each element of the recipe and explains why certain ingredients, techniques and equipment work so much better than others in producing the best tasting recipe. Even if you never follow an America's Test Kitchen or Cook's Illustrated recipe step-by-step, the things you learn just by reading the recipe books can be carried over into all of your cooking. If, like me, you are a non-recipe cook, there is still much to be learned here.

"Here in America's Test Kitchen" carries on the standard of excellence that Cook's Illustrated has established for itself. Detailed recipes that are actually essays about what goes into creating each recipe and why certain ingredients and methods are used will elevate the level of every home cook - regardless of your current level of expertise.

This book contains some of the best recipes I've ever had. The BBQ Rib recipe prepared with a dry rub and slow cooked over a smoky grill is simply the best rib recipe I've ever made - spicy, smokey, fall of the bone tender with a wonderful crisp skin on the outside. At a recent 4th of July party, these ribs and the ATK buffalo wings were a huge hit. And the cookie jar favorites - chewy, flavorful double chocolate cookies and ginger cookies are family favorites. The recipes here aren't always the quickest, the cheapest or the lowest in fat and calories, but if you are looking for the best in flavor and texture, with America's Test Kitchen you can't go wrong.

I have been watching this series on PBS and the book is just a delightful. The receipes are pretty easy to follow, ingredients are available in most grocery or gourmet shops. Plus they have done all the testing and we get to prepare the perfect combinations! Highly recommend it, especially as a gift!