Gooseberry Patch’s latest publication features an abundance of recipes for each season’s celebrations.

From White Hot Chocolate for the coldest winter night to Tangy Watermelon Salad for that Independence Day barbecue, the “Big Book of Holiday Cooking” contains readers’ own treasured dishes.

The pages hold family memories from those who sent in recipes, as well as heartwarming illustrations and homemaking tips from Gooseberry Patch. With its hunger-inducing photos, this family friendly cookbook is one worth reading cover to cover.

The recipes are broken into sections based on season, including “In the Garden” for spring and “Bountiful Harvest” for autumn. There is even a section on giving homemade holiday gifts called “Christmas Pantry.”

This cookbook, which costs $19.40 on Amazon, is 368 pages of recipe gold for kitchen novices and kitchen masters alike.

The Garlicky Chicken and Redskin Potatoes are delicious and require only a handful of ingredients before being thrown in the oven to roast.

The Warm Country Gingerbread Waffles take more work, but they taste just like gingerbread and need no topping because they are so sweet.

The tastiest tested recipe is the Pecan Pie Bars. The crust is much easier and less temperamental to make than a traditional pie crust, but it is still light and flaky.

This would be a great option for an amateur baker who wants to bring something to the Thanksgiving table.

Because the recipes are sent in from all over the country, the cookbook has a range of fare, but comfort food seems to dominate the collection.

Traditional American foods, such as ham and chicken, are well-represented.

Favorites from around the world, from tacos to lasagna, also grace the pages.

Finding a delightful dish to prepare is no challenge; keeping the dish’s page open is. This cookbook is hard-bound, and thus, stiff.

Try placing a knife block on the opposite page from the needed recipe. The book will then open more easily to that page.

Navigating the cookbook also presents a challenge.

There is an index divided by type of food, such as “Breakfast,” “Pies & Pastries” and “Side Dishes.”

The recipes are listed by the names readers have given them. Instead of looking under “P” in “Main Dishes” for a simple pasta dish, readers must look under “A” for Angie’s Pasta & Sauce.

In spite of its flaws, “Big Book of Holiday Cooking” serves up a hearty helping of delight in time for the holidays. It deserves four out of five stars.