The Best American Recipes 2001-2002 [Hardcover]

Fran McCullough (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0618128107 | ISBN-13: 978-0618128105 | Edition: 1ST

The Best American Recipes has rapidly gained respect as the most discriminating, inspiring, and genuinely useful collection available — truly the year’s best. This volume ranges further afield than ever, and with glorious results. Series editor Fran McCullough turns to a health insurance newsletter for a versatile side dish, to a women’s magazine for a family supper, to a travel Web site for a spectacular brunch, and to all the leading cookbooks and magazines.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Fran McCullough has done it again. As editor of the Best American Recipes series, she's consistently culled and published top yearly recipe picks from books, magazines, newspapers, and the Internet. Best American Recipes 2001-2002 continues this splendid tradition, presenting over 125 all-occasion formulas ranging from starters like Southern-Style Spicy Pecans to Caramelized Scallops with Smoked Chile Cream to a luscious Double-Baked Chocolate Cake. McCullough excels in choosing approachable recipes that embody the best of contemporary American cooking--sometimes inventive (see chef Michael Roberts's recipe for "crimped" fish), but always relaxed and full of flavor. These are dishes most cooks will make part of their daily repertoire.

McCullough writes that 2001-2002 was notable for two remarkable culinary invasions: that of British cooks, such as Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, and of Southeast Asian cooking, perhaps best exemplified by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid's award-winning Hot Sour Salty Sweet. From the former camp, Best offers Lawson's ravishing Clementine Cake; and from the latter, the simple but savory Aromatic Lemongrass and Pork Patties. Other must-try dishes include Shrimp Braised in Olive Oil and Paula Wolfert's Quick and Easy Chicken Breasts with Fresh Mozzarella. With a "year in food" run-down (the vegetable of the year: beets), useful cook's notes, and accompanying drink suggestions, the book is the latest in a valuable and discriminating series. --Arthur Boehm

From Publishers Weekly

This compilation of recipes from chefs (Jean-George Vongerichten; David Waltuck, etc.), personalities (such as Jamie Oliver and Bobby Flay) and magazine recipes isn't just random selection: it's a unique way to see what's currently happening in American food. As Jacques P‚pin says, "No one knows it all." So what is happening? Souffl‚s, banished during the low-fat era, are in vogue again, exemplified by Anne Willan's buttery Twice-Baked Spinach Souffl‚s, puffy and served with rich b‚chamel sauce. Mint both dried and fresh is in as are cardamom and coriander. The uncontested vegetable of the year is the humble beet, represented by Deborah Madison's piquant Beet and Spinach Salad with Lemon, Cilantro and Mint. The technique of the year is "crimping," a delightfully easy (and mush-proof) way to cook seafood, as illustrated by Crimped Shrimp from Michael Roberts. The "addiction of the year" is caramel, exemplified by Burnt Caramel Ice Cream (Corby Kummer), but caramelization is used as a technique in recipes both savory and sweet. The common denominator is comfort food, simple but sophisticated takes on American regional favorites that taste wonderful, look gorgeous ("We all have our inner Martha," writes editor McCullough, the author of Living Low-Carb) and are relatively easy to prepare. Mix and match menus as well as suggested wine pairings add to the fun. A delicious and delectable addition to any cookbook collection, this volume will be well-thumbed in no time.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1ST edition (October 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618128107
• ISBN-13: 978-0618128105
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Turkey, November 26, 1999

By 

Deborah Janklow (Riverdale, New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best American Recipes 1999: The Year's Top Picks from Books, Magazine, Newspapers and the Internet (Best American Series) (Hardcover)

After 26 years of cooking turkeys, I finally cooked one that everyone including myself loved. It's the cider-brined turkey in this book which is as good as the authors say. I also made the great pumpkin and goat cheese gratin which is delicious. Now I'm sorry I didn't make thw whole meal from the book. Everyone at our Thanksgving table wanted this book for Christmas.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great cookbook!, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best American Recipes 1999: The Year's Top Picks from Books, Magazine, Newspapers and the Internet (Best American Series) (Hardcover)

The polenta recipe alone is worth the price of the book. It is a no-stir recipe, and very easy.

There is also a great chili recipe with lamb and beans. It is a very eclectic collection with some unusual and delicious dishes. It is a cookbook well worth having.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Applause!, January 5, 2000

By 

Scriba "Concerned consumer" (Hudson Valley, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best American Recipes 1999: The Year's Top Picks from Books, Magazine, Newspapers and the Internet (Best American Series) (Hardcover)

Having gotten this great cookbook for Christmas, I've been cooking from it almost non-stop since. I have a large collection of cookbooks and think of myself as an accomplished cook, but I have never had a bookbook like this one in which all the recipes not only work but are delicious. My only regret is that I can't ask the authors to dinner; they sound delightful.I just had a dinner party for 6 very discerning friends and made the stracotto oflamb with olives and oranges and the oven-baked polenta. For dessert we had the butttermilk panna cotta with lemon jelly. My guests were in heaven! At New Year's I made the strawberries in Champagne Jelly which was quite a hit. And if anyone is still making cookies out there, make sure to include the apricot walnut biscotti. A big thank-you to the talented authors!