The Best Cookbooks Of 2014 (Slideshow)

These cookbooks stand out as the best of 2014.

After two and a half centuries in business as a confectionery in Paris, À la Mère de Famille has published its first cookbook with 95 recipes for candies, cakes, ice cream, and more. Recipes are easy enough for home cooks, and yet they produce beautiful, professional-quality results. Click here to buy a copy.

Dorie Greenspan's cookbooks are always highly rated; they're so accessible and insightful, making it easy for anyone to recreate the recipes. In this large volume, she offers a peek at traditional French desserts and her own original creations, along with recipes adapted from chefs and borrowed from friends. Click here to buy a copy.

A best-of collection from food writer Donna Hay, with stunningly beautiful photography and over 300 deliciously decadent recipes, puts a modern twist on classic recipes. This gorgeous book is as welcome on the coffee table in the living room as it is in use in the kitchen. Click here to buy a copy.

Mark Bittman knows how to simplify complicated recipes while keeping all the delicious the flavor. His latest book is all about bringing good food to the table quickly, about efficiency in preparing fresh and wholesome ingredients. Click here to buy a copy.

The Faroe Islands are about 200 miles off the coast of Scotland, and that's where this book was born. Written in both English and Faroese, it profiles chef Lief Sørenson of the restaurant Koks, located in capital city. While there are no recipes, dishes are described in detail with accompanying photos. This book is perfect for anyone seeking inspiration instead of concrete recipes. Click here to buy a copy.

Dana Cowin, editor-in-chief of Food & Wine magazine, confesses that for years she was a pretty terrible cook. But, she learned to master the kitchen with the help of well-known chefs like Alice Waters, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Thomas Keller. Now, she's teaching others — and telling her hilarious tales along the way. Click here to buy a copy.

With over 700 recipes from regions all over Mexico, there's sure to be something for everyone in this book. Whether you're looking for home-cooked or chef-created recipes, and whether you want to cook with easy ingredients or you learn about the more unusual ones, this book is your new go-to for authentic Mexican fare. Click here to buy a copy.

If you've ever wondered what to do with exotic varieties of fresh or dried mushrooms that are becoming available in grocery stores, this book has the answers. Chapters are arranged by type of mushroom, making it easy to see what you can do with what you have. It's as much a reference guide as it is a collection of super-delicious recipes. Click here to buy a copy.

Based on the premise that there are basic techniques that all cooks should know, Cal Peternell, the chef at Chez Panisse, explains ingredients and the tools you need to cook with confidence and intuition — all while weaving in personal stories that add heart and humor. Click here to buy a copy.