Fresh from last month's appearance on The Martha Stewart Show , Marie Hejl—often known as the “cooking lawyer” around Austin—is teaming up with the Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) to raise money for AYLA's annual Holiday Baskets project. This project provides gifts (both useful and fun) and approximately $135 of groceries to an average of 75 Austin-area families in need. In order to make Holiday Baskets a success, AYLA raises a substantial amount of money each year. This year, with Marie's generous assistance, AYLA is adding a win-win, creative spin to its fundraising efforts.

Marie's first cookbook, Cooking With Marie: On Any Occasion! is now available for pre-orders, and it will continue to be on sale throughout the holiday season. For all books purchased by AYLA members, Marie will donate all profits to Holiday Baskets . There is no limit to the number of books you can order, so this is a great way to stock up on holiday gifts early while making a meaningful difference for underprivileged families in Central Texas. In other words, it's a win-win!

Cooking With Marie: On Any Occasion! , which will arrive in print this Fall, is the product of feedback from Marie's friends, family, and viewers of her cooking show, as well as her own personal experiences over the past several years as a practicing lawyer. Marie has summarized the theme in one sentence: “I don't have time to cook every night, but when I do want to cook something for – [insert occasion here: a weeknight meal, casual dinner party, company potluck, wedding shower, cocktail party, housewarming party, holiday lunch] – I want to have the right recipe.” Regardless of how often or well you cook, this book is for you! In fact, after trying some of Marie's relatively quick and easy recipes, you just might find yourself looking forward to letting off a little steam in the kitchen after a long day in the office.

To learn more about Marie and her award-winning cooking show ( Cooking With Marie) , visit www.WithMarie.com . The website offers free recipes and entertaining tips. In addition, Marie's book and ever-expanding product-line, are available for sale through the website. If you purchase Cooking With Marie: On Any Occasion! on-line, be sure an enter AYLA in the “promotional code” box so that profits from your purchase will be allocated to the Holiday Baskets project. You can also purchase the book by contacting Marie directly at info@withmarie.com .

With an appearance on The Martha Stewart show, two features in Southern Living magazine, upcoming features in Lucky and Food & Wine magazines, and discussions with the Food Network (details of which cannot be disclosed at this time) in Marie's back pocket, her new book is sure to be a popular present for anyone who likes to cook. So knock out some of your holiday shopping early and help make Holiday Baskets a success by purchasing Marie's book today!

Note: If other young lawyers associations in Texas are interested in a similar arrangement, Marie will be happy to discuss it with you. You are welcome to contact her at info@withmarie.com .