Dusoulier's Chocolate & Zucchini blog has long held the position of my homepage when I sign online, and for good reason; she is a spirited food writer and cook who discovered her passion for French cuisine when her husband's job brought her on a hiatus to the states. Her recipes, now available in book form, offer the most unexpected flavor combinations, with brilliant success. Wine pairings accompany all of the recipes, as well as variations for those hard-to-find ingredients. No kitchen should be without this long-awaited collection!

Recommended by Katie

Do you know about "Secret Suppers?" They are the Fight Club of the restaurant business. If you want to join them, you must know the password, subvert the authorities and be a passionate foodie. Welcome to a meal like you've never experienced before. It's a trend sweeping the underground, and now you too can sneak a peak into this covert operation.

Recommended by Katie

I'll be the first to admit that I thought my personal Jamie Oliver infatuation had come and gone. How wrong I was! I read this cover-to-cover in two days, savoring every "lovely crisp" and "Rock 'n Roll" and "trip to my veg patch" he could throw at me. Less a cookbook, and more an homage to the seasons in nature (complete with invaluable gardening advise) and the innumerable possibilities using homegrown flavors, you too may rediscover your crush.

Recommended by Katie

This is the old classic with the classics and lots of other great recipes. My husband received this cookbook from his mother just after we had gotten married (I think he may have hinted to her about my cooking). Well, they were right, I was not a cook. I began my simple search for the recipes that my mother and his mother had made. They were there. My all-time favorite Macaroni and Cheese recipe is here. I love the Oven-Fried Chicken as well. The Pizza recipe we have used for ages on many Sunday evenings. This is a basic cookbook I go back to again and again. This newest edition has on section on slow cookers and 20-minute meals. These are meals I trust. I would recommend this to the newlyweds and the newly graduated.

Recommended by Stephanie

Animal friendly and so tasty that even diehard milk and egg cupcake-aholics may find themselves on their knees and paying homage to these delightful delicacies. Don't believe that you'll fall for the sugary-soy bites of heaven? Just ask the M&E staff -- they've sampled a few. . .(The Gingerbread with Lemony Buttercream Frosting, and the Green Tea Cupcakes are my personal weaknesses.) -Katie