For the cook or chef not content to use store-bought, pre-made jams, butters, ricotta or mayonnaise comes this handy resource – a how-to on 75 culinary craft projects. Self-appointed “food tinkerer” Karen Solomon here shares her hard-won knowledge on the best recipes for all manner of kitchen comestibles, from gravlax to peanut butter cups to good old-fashioned mayonnaise. With a firm belief in the superior value of homemade, Solomon provides alternatives for most of America’s condiment and staple favorites, along with serving and packaging recommendations, should you intend to use your lemon curd or kimchee as a gift. Not only is the result a fun and useful book, but it infects the reader with serious culinary curiosity.

Believe it or not, salsa beats ketchup as the number 1 condiment. It's number 1 for flavor, variety, and spice, too. And salsas are fast and easy to make at home. Nueva Salsa offers over 60 irresistible ways to get those taste buds dancing, from traditional, tomato-based versions such as Roasted Poblano Chiles, Tomato and Avocado to Asian-inspired salsas such as Kimchee and Mango.