By Nicole Bennett

With Mother’s Day less than a month away, now is about the time to start looking for that unique gift to show mom how you truly feel about her. Flowers are usually a nice thought and a picture frame is always needed, but why not look for something different that she will be able to use any day of the year?

Growing up, my mother managed two kids, a husband, and a career, and still made sure to have dinner on the table at 6 p.m. every day. And after cooking for a family for 25 years, she has started experimenting with new recipes that I wish she had made when I lived at home.

That’s why for Mother’s Day this year, I’m looking at the New Albany Cooking with Friends’ A Signature Collection as the perfect gift. This award-winning cookbook is filled with recipes and cooking tips that will amuse the palate of any seasoned chef and encourage the exploration into new types of cuisine.

Recipes from their friends and family, different cultural heritages, traveling experiences, and experimentation, have allowed members - of the New Albany Cooking with Friends organization - to share their love for food with each other.

“The idea behind the cookbook was to preserve these recipes for posterity and to share the recipes beyond our membership to the community at large,” says Marilu Faber, president of New Albany Cooking with Friends.

A Signature Collection is a compilation of more than 200 recipes for beverages, soups, main entrees and more. Whether you are having a luncheon with friends, a family get together, or a formal affair, there are pre-made dinner party menus to help make the night extra special. With menus like “Caribbean Cruising”, “Summer’s Harvest Luncheon”, and “Meandering through the Mediterranean”, this cookbook has something for everyone.

Along with the hundreds of recipes, the book offers information about the New Albany community and the surrounding Columbus area. It includes history tidbits from New Albany and its architecture, major organizations, and community traditions, such as the A&F Challenge and the Annual New Albany Community Foundation Event. The book allows you to step into a neighborhood rich with charm and discover what makes New Albany so magical.

The NACF started when Faber invited some friends over for a cooking demonstration. Since 2001, the group has been meeting once a month to share their love of food. Since then, it has grown and more than 50 members of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and culinary expertise have been involved with the organization.

The NACF’s contribution to the community does not end with the cookbook’s recipes. Portions of the sales will be benefiting three local charities: Mid-Ohio Foodbank, New Albany Special Connections, and New Albany Safety Town and Adventure Playground.

To purchase this book, visit www.nacookingwithfriends.com and click on the Book Outlets section to find stores and online Web sites that carry the publication. For more information on the cookbook itself or if you are interested in becoming a member of New Albany Cooking with Friends, email .