4 cookbooks to inspire your holiday meals

(BPT) – Cooking is so much more than just heating up something for dinner. It’s about feeding your family, gathering in the kitchen while sauces are simmering and talking about the day, and showing love through the meals we make for the people we hold dear. On holidays, all of that is taken up a notch! Many of us grew up with favorite holiday dishes passed from grandmothers on down. But holiday cooking is also about making new traditions. Why not try something new this year?

Here are four new cookbooks from Disney Publishing and National Geographic that are great for everyone and will help you serve up holiday memories along with delicious dishes. Bonus tip: These cookbooks make great holiday gifts!

The Official Disney Parks Celebration Cookbook: 101 Festival Recipes from the Delicious Disney Vault

The Official Disney Parks Celebration Cookbook cover.

Create Disney magic at home with this collection of official recipes from festivals at the Disney Parks. While these events are delightfully orchestrated days of live entertainment, art, culture, and beauty, for many guests, the food is the star. Now celebrate all that is joyous about festivals across the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort — in your own kitchen.

Delicious dessert wraps served with sweet sauce and whipped cream.

With gorgeous food photography and advice from the Disney Chefs, this cookbook offers ideas for appetizers, small plates, main courses, sides, beverages, and sweet treats. Plus, 40 of the 101 recipes are being published for the very first time!

A Confident Cook: Recipes for Joyous, No-Pressure Fun in the Kitchen

Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling A Confident Cook book cover

by Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling

A new cookbook for beginners and curious cooks by Emmy Award-winning talk show host and journalist Tamron Hall and her good friend, chef and award-winning culinary producer, Lish Steiling.

Tamron and Lish frying chicken in the kitchen.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Volo

When Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling first met while working at the Today show, they never imagined their friendship would lead to endless kitchen adventures filled with laughs, learning, and even tears of pure joy. In A Confident Cook, they share that same empowerment and excitement with those who are just starting to cook. Learn how to select which tools you need (and which you don’t!); how to stock your pantry; and how to cook for one, two, or a whole group. Scrumptious recipes include Baked French Toast with Berries for a Crowd, Crispy Fried Chicken, Harissa Roasted Carrots with Queso Fresco, and so many delectable desserts. Plus, family-style crowd pleasers like Sweet-and-Spicy Ham and Garlicky Potato Gratin are perfect for your holiday gathering. Throughout, Lish and Tamron chat, teach, learn, and inspire you to keep it going in the kitchen!

Big Moe’s Big Book of BBQ

Big Moes Big Book of BBQ book cover

by Moe Cason

In this mouthwatering debut cookbook by pitmaster Moe Cason — who has competed in more than 250 barbecue competitions — find 75 of his family-favorite recipes, including his beloved brisket and competition-winning ribs.

Big Moe preparing ribs inf front of a smokey grill.
Photo courtesy of Jody Horton

From bone-in Tomahawk steak to Big Moe’s famous burgers, the mouth-watering recipes gathered in these beautifully photographed pages showcase a breadth of time-tested techniques and recipes. And let’s not forget the sides! Savor a secret-ingredient mac-n-cheese that wowed Steve Harvey, enjoy a generations-old sweet-and-savory Jalapeño Cornbread, and get a taste of perfectly seasoned collard greens. Plus, Cason offers expert guidance on working with different types of smokers and grills, filling the pantry with award-winning spice rubs and marinades, selecting the perfect cuts of meat, and more.

The Blue Zones Kitchen

The Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook cover.

by Dan Buettner

Building on decades of research, longevity expert Dan Buettner has gathered 100 recipes inspired by the Blue Zones, home to the healthiest and happiest communities in the world. Each dish, like Sardinian Minestrone, Costa Rican Hearts of Palm Ceviche, Cornmeal Waffles from Loma Linda, California, and Okinawan Sweet Potatoes, uses ingredients and cooking methods proven to increase longevity, wellness, and mental health. Complemented by mouthwatering photography, the recipes also feature lifestyle tips (including the best times to eat dinner and proper portion sizes), all gleaned from locations as far away as Japan and as near as Blue Zones project cities in Texas. Innovative, easy to follow, and delicious, these healthy living recipes make the Blue Zones lifestyle attainable, so you can improve your health, extend your life, and fill your kitchen with happiness.

Baker working with traditional ingredients in a rustic venue.
Photo courtesy of David McLain

These cookbooks make great gifts for all the home chefs in your life. You can find these delicious and educational titles from Disney Publishing and National Geographic wherever you love to buy your books.