Knowing our readers' desires for fresh ideas in the kitchen, Williams-Sonoma has launched a beautiful series of single-subject cookbooks, the Williams-Sonoma Collection. Based on the legacy of our successful Kitchen Library series, Chuck Williams felt we should take the best of what we had learned and create a new collection of cookbooks reflecting today's tastes.

The series debuts with five volumes: Thanksgiving, Salad, Soup, Chicken and Pasta. Geared for novice as well as experienced cooks, the books present classic favorites plus innovative recipes that blend Asian, Latin and European influences with old-fashioned home cooking.

Every volume contains more than 40 easy-to-follow recipes, all handsomely photographed. Arranged primarily by season and occasion, they are listed at the beginning of the book, so you can find what you want at a glance. All recipes include a sidebar highlighting a key ingredient or cooking technique -information that beginning cooks will find particularly valuable. Each book concludes with a "Basics" section covering the fundamentals, be it roasting and carving a turkey or making stock for soup.

With more volumes to come, the Williams-Sonoma Collection will become an essential addition to your bookshelf. We hope the recipes will inspire you to get into the kitchen and start cooking.