Asian pickles

Based on the Japanese tradition of pickled condiments, these fermented radish tops provide plenty of probiotics. Good way of using up every bit of the vegetable!

Spicy chilies bite back with sharp onion, sweet dates, and cooling paneer cheese. From Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It author Karen Solomon's latest book, Asian Pickles.

We thought 2011 was a banner year for DIY food books, but this year brought volume after volume -- and the level of quality was unsurpassed. Here's a handful of our favorite books that crossed our desk this year.