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“I am planning to give my grandmother The Embroidered Garden. When I was growing up, she taught me how to knit and sew, and we’ve done countless projects together over the years. Now we are both learning how to embroider —and I’m hoping we'll make some of the beautiful projects in this book. I’m especially looking forward to making the seasonal wreaths, which I’ll hang in my front hall and change out each season. They’re sure to become heirlooms —especially since my new married last name, Kranz, means ‘wreath.’” —Jade Krantz, Online Course Manager

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“I can’t wait to gift my sister a copy of My Darling Lemon Thyme! She has a sensitive digestive system, and the recipes are all gluten-free and mostly dairy-free, so this cookbook will be perfect for her. Emma Galloway’s food is so simple and accessible, yet so drool-worthy! The Nut Porridge and Kale Slaw have become fast favorites in my own home, and I know my sister will go crazy for all of the sweet treats, especially the Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites. I might even make a batch to send her along with the book!” —Kate White, Production Assistant

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”My sister has knit a few scarves and she’s having her first baby this fall. I think she’ll be inspired by Handmade Heirlooms to knit the Soft Serve Cap and maybe make the Baby Bunting or Sewn Bins to decorate her baby’s room.” —Claire Kelley, Creative Marketing Strategist

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“I must admit that I was a bit skeptical when I first opened At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen, simply because there are so many “natural food/whole foods/healthy kitchen” cookbooks out there. But this one is different—and it will immediately get promoted to your use-all-the-time cookbook shelf, as it did in my kitchen. Although I’ve been eating and cooking whole foods for decades, I loved Amy’s approach to thinking through making whole foods a part of your everyday life, even and especially on those days when you can't spend lots of time cooking. Amy’s recipes are just plain delicious, one after another, and the book itself is truly beautiful. It’s become my go-to gift this year!” —Kay Campbell, Online Course Manager

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“Tilly Walnes of the Great British Sewing Bee is adorable, and her book Love at First Stitch is just as sweet as she is. Tilly’s voice is approachable and encouraging as she guides all levels of sewists through projects ranging from simple (scarves) to complex (fitted party dress). Each pattern has at least one variation, so it’s easy to craft a full wardrobe without it looking like a uniform! I have made the Delphine Skirt three times, the Margot Pajama pants, the Lilou Dress with bow belt, and I can’t wait to craft a version of the Mimi Blouse. Tilly’s patterns are all sweet AND sophisticated, making them perfect for anyone who loves to sew!“ —Karissa Kloss, Production Manager

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“I have a few friends who always seem to want to come up with new drink concoctions—often involving a healthy dose of spirits but not always. Quench is a great inspiration for trying new ingredient combinations and making amazing mixes you had never before imagined. Whether to get ready for a weekend party or just everyday experimentation, I think they’ll have a lot of fun.” —John R. Golebiewski, Assistant Managing Editor

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”Though she owns and runs a flower shop, my sister is always looking for new ways to play with plants and decorate her space. With projects that are appropriate for every season Garden Made by Stephanie Rose will inspire her throughout the year. The Painted Mason Jar Tulip Vases are exactly her style, and the Terrarium Ornaments and Hanging Candle Planter and would be sweet ways to make her space even more festive for the holidays.” —Jennifer Urban-Brown, Editor

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”Pure Vegetarian is the perfect gift for my vegan mother-in-law who visits India every year. My favorite recipes are the Eggplant Lentil Sambar with Curry Leaves and Cabbage Kofta and I know she loves to make curry so the she’ll be interested in the Potato Curry, Cauliflower Coconut Curry, and Pumpkin Spinach Curry variations in the book.” —Claire Kelley, Creative Marketing Strategist

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“I used At Home with Handmade Books to guide me in making small books of poetry as gifts for my husband and son. Erin presents lovely designs with easy-to-follow instructions—and I also found them to be a great starting point for coming up with ideas of my own. A perfect match for the word-loving creative on your list!” —Kay Campbell, Online Course Manager

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”Sourdough by Sarah Owens is the perfect gift for my homesteading brother. As someone who cans many quarts of food each summer and makes gallons of hard cider each fall, baking with homemade sourdough starter will definitely fit into to his DIY lifestyle. The botanical and seasonal nature of the recipes will also speak to his relationship with his garden and how he already eats. I might encourage him to start with the Drunken Fig Bread and Nutbutter Cookies.” —Jennifer Urban-Brown, Editor

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“My mother grew up on a farm in Eastern Montana, and I know she’ll have an appreciation for the memoir Cold Antler Farm, a story of an intrepid young lady starting a farm all on her own in upstate New York.  It’s the perfect read for the holiday season as Jenna writes about some of the lesser known holidays of the agricultural calendar.  The writing is inspiring and beautiful and will make you want to live a more homegrown, small and sustainable life.” —KJ Grow, Sales & Marketing Manager

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“My actor and photographer friends in Brooklyn don’t have a green thumb but are trying to grow a garden in their backyard. I’d like to give these amateur gardeners Seedswap to inspire them to branch out in terms of what to plant in their gardening endeavors.” —Sara Bercholz, Roost Books Publisher

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”The Vibrant Table would be a great gift for my friend who loves cooking and wants to show her skeptical family that eating vegan is not only a compassionate and healthy choice, but also a delicious one!” —Breanna Locke, Editorial Assistant

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“My son Milo goes to a Waldorf preschool. And while Imagine Childhood is not a Waldorf book, it is aligned with principles like connecting with nature, following the natural rhythms of the seasons, spending time outdoors, and fostering imagination in an organic way that speaks to how kids’ minds work.” —Sara Bercholz, Roost Books Publisher

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We’ll be posting some favorites from the Roost Books list over the next couple weeks—just in time for holiday shopping season!

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from A Simple Feast: A Year of Stories and Recipes to Savor by Diana Yen 

Arugula, Lentil, and Butternut Squash Salad

Serves 6 to 8

“I always have a supply of arugula in the refrigerator. The delicate leaves have a peppery bite and make for an excellent base to any salad. Here I’ve added lentils and sweet butternut squash to highlight the earthy flavors of autumn.”

For the salad

1 butternut squash (2 to 2. pounds), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons honey Salt 1 cup French green lentils (also known as Puy lentils) 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 garlic clove, minced 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin Freshly ground black pepper 6 ounces arugula (about 8 cups loosely packed) 

For the dressing

2 garlic cloves, peeled 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 3 tablespoons finely minced shallots 1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper

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This week, we’ll be posting menu suggestions for your Thanksgiving dinner. This beautiful image is from the new book Sourdough: Recipes for Rustic Fermented Breads, Sweets, Savories, and More by Sarah Owens, which has lots of ideas for holiday baking.