Man with a Pan edited by John Donohue

Somehow the stereotype persists that women do all the cooking at home; if a man cooks, he's a professional chef. This book puts that idea on its head by asking 21 men who cook at home to write about their experiences.

Some discuss one recipe, others write about how they learned to cook. Many discuss the challenge of getting kids to eat anything but mac and cheese. A few of the writers are known foodies, a few are non-chef celebrities, and many of them are just regular guys who cook.

You've probably got to be a food geek to really enjoy this book - but if you're the kind of person who read cookbooks for enjoyment, you'll enjoy these "stories from the field" written by men who know their way around the kitchen.

Cherries in Winter by Suzan Colon

I was looking for a quick read over the long holiday weekend, and this nonfiction, hard-times, food-as-life memoir fit the bill.

The author's family has a long history of "making do" when times are tough. During the current economic downturn Colon has turned to her ancestry - specifically, from her Nana's recipe folder - for tips and encouragement on perseverance.

The book is filled with quaint, relate-able tales of everyday survival. It's also filled with recipes: some will make you want to get into the kitchen and others (*ahem* liver and onions) will make you glad you don't have to.

The book's subtitle is "My family's recipe for hope in hard times," and it really is a book of optimism and encouragement. You may not find a pot of gold to get you through these tough times, but you can, at least, eat well.

Hungry Monkey by Matthew Amster-Burton

I don't read a lot of parenting books (natch - I don't have kids!), but this is a funny, interesting, and educational book that applies to anyone who eats.

Amster-Burton decided before his daughter was born that he didn't want to give up his enjoyment of food and cooking just because there was a tot in the house. This book is about his journey with Iris - cooking, eating, and exploring food with a baby (and eventually a toddler).

Her whole life, Iris eats whatever everybody else is eating. Not that she isn't picky ... for a while, Iris loved spicy food. Then, no longer. And maybe someday she'll come around again. In the mean time, Iris eats around the peppers. Sauces go on the side. But she still eats the same thing that's served to everyone else. And she helps cook everything - sometimes most enjoying the preparation of foods she ultimately doesn't enjoy.

This isn't a stuffy, food-geek kind of book. It's a book about exploring food and learning more about cooking - with your kids, or with your friends. It's a practical cookbook full of things you can actually do (and not an english-muffin-pizza in sight!), with amusing stories and dwellings on eating. I'd recommend it for anyone who's trying to be more adventurous in the kitchen.