Publisher's note: While we love Hogwarts and the Harry Potter universe, we do not condone the author's views and transphobia.

I'm so happy to introduce you to my favorite celebratory cookbook, written by one of my favorite authors. The Unofficial Hogwarts for the Holidays Cookbook: 75 Recipes for a Year of Magical Celebrations, by Rita Mock-Pike, is a treasure for cooking delicious holiday foods all year round. 

Growing up, I learned much from watching my mom, aunts, and grandmothers cooking. Besides the camaraderie, laughter, and stories, I learned how to quickly peel an apple with no waste (and still have my gramma's paring knife), how to cook perfect scrambled eggs (and own my granny's pan), and how to move in a kitchen filled with many people, all working with sharp implements. Cooking together is a comfort. Knowing you are continuing lifetimes of kitchen and food knowledge is an extraordinary thing, full of love and taste.

Have you ever read a cookbook and had to stop at the VERY FIRST RECIPE to make it? Such is the case with Ken Haedrich's The Harvest Baker: 150 Sweet and Savory Recipes Celebrating the Fresh-Picked Falvors of Fruits, Herbs, and Vegetables. 

I love it. 

Need a gift for a new graduate? Interested in helping your international students eat when the caf is closed? Teens and college students are HUNGRY - and don't always know how to make food while in college. Enter a new book by Christine Nelson, entitled Recipes Every College Student Should Know.

Irish cooking - it's incredibly delicious. This month and next, we've got several recipes to share from The New Irish Table: Recipes from Ireland’s Top Chefs. Be sure to read our interview with editor Leslie Conron Carola - and then check back for more great recipes!

Have you ever longed to go to Bali? Of course! It's an enticing place - interesting, beautiful, and culturally rich. And the food... 

Why aren't there Balinese restaurants everywhere? The cuisine is delicious, innovative, and full of local fruits and vegetables. And while I haven't been to Bali yet, I've found a cookbook that can take our tastebuds there.