I’ve been excited about this cookbook release for awhile now and when asked to review it was overjoyed to say the least. If you aren’t aware of Food52 yet, it is an on-line food community created by Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, successful cookbook authors and noted women in the food world. They created a place to give “people from all over the world a way to exchange their ideas and to celebrate each other’s talents.” Food52.com was such a success that Amanda and Merrill created The Food52 Cookbook released recently and published by William Morrow.

The Food52 Cookbook: 140 Winning Recipes From Exceptional Home Cooks captures the amazing talent from the Food52.com community. For 52 weeks, recipe contests were run on the website and the winning 140 recipes create this book. The collection itself is impressive but not at all overwhelming. I think inspiring is a better word to describe the collection because every time I have opened its beautifully photographed pages I want to jump in the kitchen. The recipes are simple to follow but not “dumbed down” and I love that it includes tips for each recipe, an insight to the recipe creator, and a community review of each recipe. Living up to the name, The Food52 Cookbook is organized by seasons, an idea that is not found often in today’s cookbooks. This is how we should cook. Not by what was made and frozen five months ago but what is in season now.

This is not your average “home cook” collection of  recipes but more of an extensive collection of real, whole, and simply beautiful food. With recipes such as Ciabatta Stuffing with Chorizo, Sweet Potato, and Mushrooms; Wishbone Roast Chicken with Herb Butter; Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies; Ricotta and Chive Gnocchi; and Lazy Mary’s Lemon Tart, this is a cookbook for everyone that really loves food and knows the value of cooking a good meal for their friends and family. The Food52 Cookbook: 140 Winning Recipes From Exceptional Home Cooks is definitely one of my favorites that I will be sucked into for a long time.

The Giveaway is now closed and winners have been notified. Thanks for participating!  I’m so in love with this book I want to give you a copy! I have two books, courtesy of William Morrow, to giveaway to two lucky people. This is a must have for the holidays. The giveaway will end at noon (central) on Monday, November 28, 2011. Two winners will be chosen by random.org.

To enter do one or all of the following:

• Leave a comment at the end of this post telling me what your favorite dish to cook for the holiday is.
• Tweet the following: “A must have for the holidays! Enter to win the new Food52 Cookbook from @smonkeyslippers http://su.pr/2yZnjS ” Leave a separate comment saying you did
• Like InSockMonkeySlippers on Facebook. If you already do that works too! Leave a separate comment

Good Luck!