"MOTHER'S BEST: Comfort Food That Takes You Home Again," by Lisa Schroeder with Danielle Centoni, Taunton Press, $28 (hardback)

Lisa Schroeder, chef and owner of Mother's Bistro & Bar in Portland, Ore., has created a Mother of the Month (M.O.M.) menu, where she celebrates original recipes from a different mother each month. From that experience comes this cookbook containing 150 favorites from Mother's Bistro and Bar that celebrates mothers and their cuisine from around the world.

"COOKING UNDER PRESSURE," by Lorna Sass, William Morrow, $23.99 (paperback, 20th anniversary edition)

This new edition has been updated for today's tastes and for more efficient, safer cookers. It contains more than 150 recipes for soups, stews, roasts, risottos, desserts and more, made in record time in the pressure cooker.

"VEGAN COOKIES INVADE YOUR COOKIE JAR: 100 Dairy-free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Treats," by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, Da Capo Press, $17.95 (paperback)

The books offers recipes for mix 'n' drop cookies, biscotti and bars, pipe-out cookies, veganized versions of name-brand favorites, frosting, fillings and some gluten-free cookies. The book offers advice on baking and decorating. The most intriguing advice is how to choose the best cookies to eat for breakfast.

"WORLDWIDE WARD CHRISTMAS COOKBOOK," by Deanna Buxton, Covenant Communications, $26.95 (hardback, ring bound)

Many of the 300-plus recipes gathered from around the world include holiday tradition stories, memories and photos. Each recipe gives the name, ward and town of the person who contributed the recipe.