As the year draws to a close families gather for merriment, gifts and above all else food. Well-worn recipes for finger foods, casseroles, soups and roasts are trotted out for hungry denizens to devour. For some, the holidays are also the perfect time to try out new recipes.

For these adventurous cooks, Boston Public Radio's resident foodie Corby Kummer rounded up his favorite, must-read cookbooks from the past year. It's a globe-spanning collection, and if you hurry you may find one of the following titles just in time for your holiday gathering.

GUEST:

CORBY KUMMER'S BEST COOKBOOKS OF 2012: