Cookbook bookmarks

"THE COMPETENT COOK: Essential Tools, Techniques, and Recipes for the Modern At-home Cook," by Lauren Braun Costello, Adams Media, $19.95

Costello gives several tips on how to move from clueless to seasoned cook in the kitchen. She includes information on how to organize the kitchen, stock the pantry with must-have tools and ingredients and master the 10 techniques every at-home chef should know. She also includes "essential recipes," such as roast chicken, apple pie and others that never go out of style.

"ABSOLUTELY CHOCOLATE: Irresistible Excuses to Indulge, from the editors of Fine Cooking," The Taunton Press, $29.95

The book tells how chocolate is made, how to choose the right chocolate for your baking needs, when to use cocoa and when to use chocolate, how to decipher labels and more. It has more than 125 recipes from layer cakes, tarts and pies to muffins, cookies and brownies, candies, sauces and hot cocoa. There's lots of photographs, step-by-step instructions, can't fail instructions, secrets and techniques for perfect results from the editors of Fine Cooking.

More cookbooks released recently:

"Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competition," by Andrew Friedman; "Top Secret Recipes Unlocked: All New Home Clones of America's Favorite Brand-Name Foods," by Todd Wilbur; "The Cocktail Primer: All You Need to Know to Make the Perfect Drink," by Eben Klemm