With a cornucopia of scrumptious cookbooks out in October, let me run you through a lightning round of quick recommendations.

Tenderheart by Hetty Lui McKinnon

Buy this book if: you fell in love with Hetty Lui McKinnon because her books walk the walk and talk the talk, but also because her writing is filled with family anecdotes and top tips for creating the perfect salad. This new book is for anyone who cooks for large gatherings, for fussy eaters and for those who want to eat more green vegetables.

RecipeTin Eats: Dinner by Nagi Maehashi

Buy this book if: you love a one-pot deal that requires very little clean-up and preparation. We already love and trust Nagi Maehashi’s RecipeTin concept and now this new book brings together many more new ideas for easy, no-fuss meal. If you are fraught with stress, this book takes any guesswork out of the equation, saving you time and energy while still packing a delicious punch.

First Nations Food Companion by Damien Coulthard & Rebecca Sullivan

Buy this book if: you’ve been to the market, spent up on warrigal greens and now you want to learn how to do our native food justice. This cookbook includes recipes, as well as a glossary on the ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘how’ behind each ingredient. Add this cookbook to your collection because knowing more about what grows here makes sense. Use it because bush tomatoes and macadamia nuts are delicious and environmentally sound.

The Food Saver’s A-Z by Alex Elliott-Howery & Jaimee Edwards

Buy this book if: you want to stop throwing food out. You may already know that the people behind Cornersmith are the Australian Royals of Pickling; this book cements that position. The Food Saver’s A-Z is for all of us who don’t want to be up to our shoulders in waste and actively want to find ways to reduce our own contribution to the problem.

The Joy of Better Cooking by Alice Zaslavsky

Buy this book if: you love Alice Z and her brilliant ability to talk up fresh produce and infuse cooking with a sense of fun. Filled with top tips for both cooks who want to up their game and those who have literally no knife skills whatsoever, this book feels like having your best friend, who is a chef, in the kitchen with you, cheering you on.

The Shared Kitchen by Clare Scrine

Buy this book if: someone you know is about to leave the family home for share house shenanigans. Gift them The Shared Kitchen if you hope they have learnt something from all those meals you prepared together, but you can’t quite be sure. After all, being a little aspirational never hurt anyone.

Very Good Salads by Shuki Rosenboim & Louisa Allan

Buy this book if: you want to throw meals together that scream colour, flavour and goodness. From the owners of Very Good Falafel, this cookbook rejoices in spices, roasts and leaves all in the name of an extremely tasty banquet. Take some chickpeas here, add some cumin there, shake it all around ... and you have an easy meal that inspires a little time together with your nearest and dearest.

JapanEasy Bowls and Bento by Tim Anderson

Buy this book if: you want to be the kind of person who can grab a bowl, fill it with seasonal vegetables, rice and pickles, and – hey presto! – create a delicious meal. JapanEasy Bowls and Bento demonstrates how simple Japanese meals can be and why cooking can be fuss-free and delightful if you follow a few basic rules.