Los Angeles Times Cookbook Hot List

1. “The Cake Mix Doctor” by Anne Byrn (Workman, $14.95). How to turn a box cake into something special.

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 13

2. “Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home” by Julia Child and Jacques Pepin (Alfred Knopf, $40). A spirited kitchen conversation between two great cooks.

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 33

3. “The French Laundry Cookbook” by Thomas Keller, Michael Ruhlman and Susie Heller (Artisan, $60). The International Assn. of Culinary Professionals’ best cookbook of the year.

Last Week: 3

Weeks on List: 26

4. “The Minimalist Cooks at Home” by Mark Bittman (Broadway Books, $25). Streamlined cooking with big flavors.

Last Week: 9

Weeks on List: 2

5. “This Can’t Be Tofu!” by Deborah Madison (Bantam Doubleday Dell, $15). America’s favorite vegetarian cook may change your mind about soy.

Last Week: 6

Weeks on List: 3

6. “The Best Recipe” by the editors of Cook’s Illustrated magazine (Boston Common Press, $29.95). “Ultimate” examples of favorite dishes.

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 18

7. “The Carbohydrate Addict’s Cookbook” by Richard F. Heller (John Wiley & Sons, $24.95). Yet another spin on the popular diet.

Last Week: 10

Weeks on List: 2

8. “How to Cook Without a Book” by Pam Anderson (Bantam Doubleday Dell, $25). Outlines for dishes every cook should know.

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: 1

9. “Essentials of Cooking” by James Peterson (Artisan, $40). A step-by-step manual in full color.

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: 10

10. “How To Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman (MacMillan, $25). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia, with more than 1,500 recipes.

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 75

Rankings are based on a Times poll of national and independent cookbook sellers.