Each year hundreds of food books and cookbooks pass by my desk, and I always look forward to sharing my favorites with you during the holiday season. I know how tough it can be to search for that perfect present for the cook on your list. So here are a few of my picks for various types of cooks.

"Simple: Effortless Food, Big Flavors" (Mitchell Beazley, $32.99)

Noted food columnist and cookbook author Diana Henry has produced another splendid collection of no-fuss recipes that are easy to put together with standout results. Her new book features 150 recipes that masterfully reinterpret simple recipes with her original twists. Her recipes are simple in method yet spectacular in flavor. Many of the recipes rely on regular pantry items to make it easy to put together at the last minute. Don't miss Baked Potato, Chorizo, Mushrooms and Egg; Cool Greens with Hot Asian Dressing; Slow Cooked Lamb with Pomegranates and Honey; and Turkish Pasta with Feta, Onion and Dill.

"Dorie's Cookies" (Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $35)

Dorie Greenspan has given us cookbooks that dazzle. Her latest cookie book features more than 300 cookie recipes and will have any cookie baker in heaven. Most of the cookies are sweet, but some are savory, and all of the recipes have photos to help the baker know how to present their efforts. The recipes are long and very specific, so you can't make a mistake. You'll need certain equipment like a heavy duty mixer and a host of other bakers tools to get the full benefit from this amazing cookie tome. Brownies, biscotti, bars cocktail cookies and so much more. Prepare yourself: Once you start reading this, there is a very good chance you will make a bee-line for your kitchen and start baking.

"Mozza at Home" (Knopf, $35)

Nancy Silverton is a force of nature. If you ever had the pleasure of watching her make pizza at Mozza, you would know what I mean. She is focused and genuinely obsessed with making every dish as good as it can be. I've known her since her days making California-inspired desserts at Spago and Campanile. She rarely disappoints. In her latest book she shares how she likes to cook at home. Her recipes and menus are pure California with big inspiration from Italy, Mexico, Korea, France and India. Her writing style and stories are engaging. I love how she has arranged the menus with one main dish and then the rest as supporting dishes that you can pick and choose. A few menus are for one ingredient like eggs, hamburger and of course her desserts. I can't wait to cook some of these dishes.

"A Modern Way to Cook" (Ten Speed Press, $35)

Anna Jones' book, subtitled "150 +Vegetarian recipes for quick, flavor-packed meals," is an innovative vegetarian cookbook that will please non-vegetarians as well. The chapters are broken down by time, with recipes that can be prepared in less than 15, 20, 30 and 40 minutes, so no matter how busy you are, you can get dinner on the table quickly. Vegetarians will be thrilled with lots of new and exciting ideas. There are also lots of gluten-free and vegan recipes. Dishes I want to try include: Avocado, Cucumber and Fennel Soup; Charred Broccolini with Cucumber Noodles and Peanut Sauce; Beet and Radicchio Gratin; and Carrot Cake Granola Bars.

"L.A.'s Legendary Restaurants" (Santa Monica Press, $45)

George Geary has given us an up-close and personal look at the famous places where those in Hollywood ate drank and played. You'll find menus, great old photos, recipes and stories from Hollywood hotspots from the 1920s and on. Many of these restaurants are gone, but for me this book was a step back into my own history. From C.C. Brown's on Hollywood Blvd with their memorable hot fudge sundaes, to Schwab's Pharmacy where Lana Turner was discovered and I spent Sunday mornings with my dad enjoying Spanish omelets and much more. So many memories and stories that make this book THE gift to give to those who are history lovers as well as celeb followers. No matter where you live, this book will be the fun food read of the holiday season.

"Our Table: Time-Tested Recipes, Memorable Meals" (Mesorah Publications Ltd., $34.99)

For Hanukkah, this is my pick. Food stylist, columnist and author Renee Muller serves up dishes that are easy and delicious for anyone who loves good stories and of course good comfort food. Dishes like Fall Off The Bone Flanken, Mushroom Barley Soup Done Right, and Babka Swirls are just a handful of the warm, familiar dishes that we all yearn for from time to time. This one is a keeper for well-tested Jewish-inspired recipes.

(Diane Rossen Worthington is an authority on new American cooking. She is the author of 18 cookbooks, including "Seriously Simple Parties," and a James Beard Award-winning radio show host. You can contact her at www.seriouslysimple.com.)