End the year on a sweet or savory note with chef Kathy Gunst's favorite cookbooks of 2021

We baked sourdough. We learned to use pantry foods in creative ways. And, during these past two pandemic years, many who never bothered to spend much time in the kitchen found themselves finally learning how to cook.

And here we are at the cusp of 2022 with an abundance of great new cookbooks to expand our kitchen repertoire. Books that take us on trips around the world, learning the secrets and treasured recipes of cooks from varied cultures. In this time when travel is still complex, cooking your way around the world may be the best bet for learning about new cuisines.

Every year when I go through the massive pile of new cookbooks that accumulate on my office floor, I find myself seeking inspiration. This year, in particular, and without even being fully conscious of it, I looked for help making vegetables take center stage on my dinner plate. I grew up with poultry and meat at the center of every meal. And while I adore cooking vegetables, they tend to wind up on the side. So I was — and wasn't — surprised to see that many of my favorite books this year focus on new and innovative ways to cook vegetables and make them the star of the meal.

From an English vegetable garden to a vegan Korean kitchen, and a New York baker to immigrant cooks in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, this group of new cookbooks will encourage you to experiment with new flavors and techniques and learn about cultures from around the world in your own kitchen.

"Life Is What You Bake It: Recipes, Stories, and Inspiration to Bake Your Way to the Top" by Vallery Lomas (Clarkson Potter)

Let's start with dessert.

Vallery Lomas was a lawyer who loved to bake. She received a call to be a contestant on "The Great American Baking Show" (the