Whether you're baking sweet treats for holiday gifts or preparing savory dishes for family feasts, there's a good chance you'll be doing a lot of cooking in the coming months. We asked two locals in the know — Courtney Contos of Chef Contos Kitchen & Store in Shelburne, and Sandy Scott of the Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick — to recommend cookbooks filled with recipes the whole family will enjoy. Give one as a gift, or keep it for yourself and add an extra helping of deliciousness to your seasonal festivities.

Contos recommends:

The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook: 150 Home-Grown Recipes from the Green Mountain State

By Tracey Medeiros

"This cookbook is so fun because you can make recipes from farms you know, or learn about new farms and then go visit them." The 125 rustic-yet-refined recipes, like Vermont Cheddar Soup and wood-fired Blueberry Goat Cheese Pizza, come from both celebrated chefs and hardworking farmers.

Cookie Love

By Mindy Segal with Kate Leahy

"This is a book written by a friend in Chicago. She does a great job of getting us excited for holiday baking!" The 60 recipes — more elevated interpretations of classic cookies — range from Fleur de Sel Shortbread to Peaches and Cream Thumbprints.

Scott recommends:

101 One-Dish Dinners: Hearty Recipes for the Dutch Oven, Skillet & Casserole Pan

By Andrea Chesman

"If you're looking for simple meals without a lot of cleanup, try this selection by Vermont cookbook author Chesman. The healthy comfort-food classics in this volume range from soups to casseroles to hearty salads and can be made and served in one of three pieces of cookware: a cast-iron skillet, a glass casserole dish or a salad bowl."

The Cabot Creamery Cookbook: Simple, Wholesome Dishes from America's Best Dairy Farms

By Cabot creamery

"This book incorporates dairy products such as cheese, butter and yogurt into an array of mouthwatering and easy-to-make recipes. There is a mix here of recipes from the Creamery's test kitchens and from the kitchens of their farm families; profiles and photographs of the farmers are featured alongside their recipes. Whether you're craving some homemade mac and cheese or looking for a new breakfast treat, look no further!"