Bookmarks: Recently released cookbooks

Cookbooks and other books about food that have crossed our desk recently.

"COOK'S ILLUSTRATED COOKBOOK," by the editors of the America's Test Kitchen, America's Test Kitchen, $40, 890 pages

With about 2,000 recipes from 20 years in Cook's Illustrated magazine, this hefty cookbook includes 23 chapters — each focused on a different part of the meal, like appetizers, fish and shellfish, quick breaks, and six dessert categories: Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Cakes, Pies and Tarts, Fruit Desserts, Pastry, and Puddings, Custards and Frozen Desserts. Although it contains hardly any full-color photos, it does have occasional illustrations to help show things like "Boning Chicken Thighs for Teriyaki." And it does include occasional notes from the test kitchen.

"BAKING WITH THE CAKE BOSS: 100 of Buddy's Best Recipes and Decorating Secrets," by Buddy Valastro, Free Press, $30, 352 pages

The star of TLC's "Cake Boss" now has his own cookbook that has his distinctive voice and includes instructions on how to make and decorate several creative cakes. With several step-by-step instructions with photographs that make it seem simple enough for even a beginner to attempt.

Other recently released cookbooks.

"FROM OUR GRANDMOTHERS' KITCHENS: A Treasury of Lost Recipes Too Good to Forget," by the editors of the Cook's Country magazine, America's Test Kitchen, 214 pages, $29.95

From a nationwide call for recipes, the editors at America's Test Kitchen have assembled these adaptations of a old-fashioned recipes, from main dishes to desserts.

"ROBIN TAKES 5," by Robin Miller, Andrew McMeel Publishing, $29.99, 480 pages (paperback)

Robin Miller, host of Food Network's "Quick Fix Meals," has put together 500 dinner recipes that use five ingredients or less, have 500 calories or less and have a prep time of 15 minutes or less (baking times do vary).

"SIMPLY FRESH: Casual Dining at Home," by Jeff Morgan, Andrew McMeel Publishing, $25, 216 pages

Drawing from the restaurant Ruby Tuesday, this cookbook includes eight sections for each portion of a meal.

"SIMPLE FOOD, BIG FLAVOR: Unforgettable Mexican-Inspired Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours," by Aaron Sanchez with JJ Goode, Atria Books, $30, 194 pages

Sanchez, the co-host of "Chefs vs. City" on the Food Network and executive chef at Centrico, shares 15 recipes from his culinary heritage.