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By JEFF HOUCK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 14, 2008

Since this week's section has a wedding theme, we thought it might be helpful to offer a list of books that would be great gifts for newlyweds who might be starting out their adventures in the kitchen but lacking good reference cookbooks.

"How to Cook Everything," by Mark Bittman (Wiley, $21.95)

Try not to be daunted by the girth of this 950-page book. It is exactly what the title suggests: a guide to cooking, with a slightly hip tone to it.

The step-by-step instructional drawings for doing such things as shaping pizza dough or filleting a fish are very easy to follow. For a start, head to Page 437. It's the recipe for basic pot roast. You'll be needing it.

"Mastering the Art of French Cooking," by Julia Child (Alfred A. Knopf, $40)

In the mid-1940s, Julia was a young bride with no cooking skills. Then she began reading Gourmet and "Joy of Cooking." Things went so well, she wound up writing this little book in 1961 that launched her career. You should be so lucky.

This book isn't just a great instructional guide; it's good literature. And a great companion in the kitchen.

"Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition," by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, Ethan Becker (Scribner, $35)

Two years after the Great Depression and not long after her husband died, Irma Rombauer, then 54, used the $3,000 bequeathed to her in his will to self-publish this book. It has since gone on to become the Rosetta stone of modern American cooking. (See Julia Child item above.)

"Clarita's Cocina: Great Traditional Recipes From a Spanish Kitchen," by Clarita Garcia (Seaside Publishing, $24.95)

Written by Clarita Garcia, who co-owned the legendary Las Novidades restaurant in Ybor City with her husband, Manuel, this book became a staple in Hispanic kitchens across the country after its 1969 publishing.

It is still beloved by cooks who rely on her authentic, flavorful recipes.

"How to Cook Italian," by Giuliano Hazan (Scribner, $35)

Italian food by its nature doesn't require expensive ingredients - perfect for a newlywed budget. Hazan, a cooking instructor from Sarasota, walks readers through the basic elements, spices and techniques of Italian cuisine and then unleashes great recipes, such as fettuccine with gorgonzola, that look extravagant but aren't.

Oddly, there's no recipe for Italian Wedding Soup.

"The Thanksgiving Table," by Diane Morgan (Chronicle, $18.95)

The unspoken wedding gift: The newlyweds get to make the next Thanksgiving dinner. It's a rite of passage. This book helps with everything from trussing the turkey to creating a beautiful table centerpiece.

"Essentials of Asian Cuisine," by Corinne Trang (Simon & Schuster, $40)

Man and wife do not live by meatloaf alone. Like Italian cooking, Asian cuisine is easy, quick and inexpensive to make. And, because you never know when friends or in-laws will drop by, you can prepare something exotic with that wok someone gifted you with at the wedding reception.

"Adventures in Jewish Cooking," by Jeffrey Nathan (Potter, $32.50)

For those who are Jewish by birth or by marriage, the kitchen is a familial minefield. Fail to observe the rules on a kosher dish during a holy day meal and you might as well leave the country. Nathan, a New York City chef, helps you navigate the hazards as well as make some tasty food.

Reporter Jeff Houck can be reached at (813) 259-7324 or jhouck@tampatrib.com.

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