Cookie Cookbooks

Just in time for the holiday baking season, two treasure troves packed with so many recipes you're bound to come up with some new family favorites. Author Esther Brody, known for her bestselling muffin recipe books, offers straightforward, easy-to-follow recipes, and lots of them--everything from Glazed Lemon Poppyseed Squares or Frosted Carrot Bars to Chocolate Almond Biscotti or Mincemeat Drop Cookies.

Both of these books are enhanced by their opening tips and troubleshooting suggestions that will help you bake your goodies to perfection. On the down side, both books are lean on photos--it would be nice to know what Glazed Lemon Braids are supposed to LOOK like.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)