Vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free? Six new cookbooks.

A sampling of new 2014 cookbooks to guide home cooks toward fresh ideas in the kitchen.

4. Mayim's Vegan Table by Mayim Bialik

'Mayim's Vegan Table' by Mayim Bialik with Dr. Jay Gordon (Perseus Books)

You might recognize Mayim Bialik from the TV show "Blossom" and "The Big Bang Theory." She's all grown up now with kids of her own – and feeding them on a vegan diet. 

Feeding children on a vegan diet has drawn criticism, so Bialik has teemed up with pediatrician Jay Gordon who specializes in nutrition. The first 50 or so pages of "Mayim's Vegan Table" are dedicated to explaining how the vegan diet works, since it does take a little more effort to make sure you are eating balanced meals.

In the recipe section Bialik provides plenty of meals and treats kids love to eat – smoothies, mac and cheese, and chocolate chip cookies. You'll need to be brave and try things like "vegan cheese," but there are also novel approaches such as making cheese from nuts. And plenty recipes will sound completely mainstream, such as quinoa mango salad, Mexican bean dip, and oven-baked fries.

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