Hot List

SO. CAL. RATING

1. 30-Minute Meals 2 by Rachael Ray (Lake Island Press, $14.95) The Food Network show continues and so do the recipe collections

2. Barefoot Contessa Family Style by Ina Garten (Clarkson Potter, $35) For cooks who want to feed their families as well as they do their guests

3. The Secrets of Baking: Simple Techniques for Sophisticated Desserts by Sherry Yard (Houghton Mifflin, $35.95) Published just in time for the holidays, this entry by Spago’s pastry chef is organized around 12 fundamental recipes and variations.

4. Simply Ming: Easy Techniques for East-Meets-West Meals by Ming Tsai (Clarkson Potter, $32.50) From the host of the Food Network’s “East Meets West,” a fusion primer organized around master recipes for sauces, pestos, salsas and rubs.

5. 30-Minute Meals by Rachael Ray (Lake Island Press, $14.95) The original compilation of audience favorites.

6. The Balthazar Cookbook by Lee Hanson, Riad Nasr and Keith McNally (Clarkson Potter, $37.50) Elemental brasserie cooking from the owner and chefs of the Manhattan hotspot.

7. Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks by Diane Rossen Worthington (Chronicle, $35) The latest from the respected author of Williams-Sonoma and other cookbooks.

8. A Passion for Desserts by Emily Luchetti (Chronicle, $35) The third book by the executive pastry chef at Farallon (and former pastry chef at Stars) who offers desserts organized by season.

9. Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook edited by Jennifer Darling (Meredith Books, $29.95) The 12th edition of the familiar cookbook with the red-and-white checked cover.

10. Veg Out: Vegetarian Guide to Southern California by Kathy Lynn Siegel (Gibbs Smith, $12.95) First in a series covering vegetarian and vegan restaurants and markets.

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