Food Gifts Cooks Love is a year-round collection of gifts from the hearta "a treasure trove of homemade foods ready to pack into tins, jars, boxes, and cellophane bags tied with a ribbon. From Orange Cardamom Marmalade and Salmon Gravlax to Rustic Rosemary Parmesan Crackers and Blueberry-Blackberry-Basil Margarita Puree, the recipes in "Gifts Cooks Love" will help you create the perfect gift for any occasion. Because making a handmade gift takes time--one of life's most precious commodities--"Gifts Cooks Love" emphasizes that giving a handmade offering expresses something very personal. In this beautifully presented book, Sur La Table and Diane Morgan offer something for every level of cook, providing accessible recipes delivered with helpful kitchen tips and ingredient notes, as well as guidance for artfully wrapping and presenting these edible gifts. Gorgeous full-color photographs encourage and motivate creativity, while the 40 recipes inside "Gifts Cooks Love" are certain to please all palates any time of year, from the sweet and simple to the gourmet. Some of the techniques include preserving fruits, dehydrating fresh mushrooms, smoking and curing meat and fish, and creating spirited beverages. For the beginning cook, there are even simple-to-make no-cook food gifts. And because tasteful treats deserve equally tasteful presentations, each delicious recipe comes with a beautiful packaging idea. "Gifts Cooks Love" will show you how to turn your handmade gifts into homemade hugs with a few slices of art paper, colorful twists of ribbon, or quick strokes of a brush.