My favorite cookbooks are the ones that are simple to follow and have excellent photos of the dish.  I really like to see how the recipe should look when it’s finished. Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC KITCHEN 101: Secrets to Cooking Confidence: Cooking Basics Plus 150 Easy Healthy Recipes would make a great gift for a newlywed, college student, or anyone who’s learning to cook.  If someone on your Christmas list is trying to follow nutritional guidelines, consider this book.  It has diabetic-friendly recipes and dietary exchange information.

Since I use my crockpot often, I especially enjoyed the section on crockpot cooking.  There are also some favorites for holiday gatherings.  This cookbook really has a great assortment to get anyone going on some good recipe ideas.  This cookbook uses “normal” ingredients—so I didn’t have to search the specialty sections of the grocery store or have to order random ingredients online to make anything.  There are also good variations possible so that you can tweak the recipes to meet your family’s needs and preferences.  Kitchen 101 gave me a good opportunity to try some new recipes that I might not have otherwise attempted.  Overall, this was a hit at my house and will be a book I’ll turn to time and again in the future.  Visit author Holly Clegg’s site for more great information!