U.S.A. Cookbook [Paperback]

Sheila Lukins (Author), Carolyn Vibbert (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1997

After traveling across the country for three years, Sheila Lukins, the co-author of The Silver Palate cookbooks and The New Basics Cookbook and author of All Around the World Cookbook, set to work tasting, interpreting, and making magic in over 600 recipes. Here are Mashed Yukon Golds, a Stovetop Clambake, Vegetable Jambalaya, Bing Cherry Chutney, Peachy Keen Pie. Quesadillas with duck and caramelized onions, a burger stuffed with Maytag blue cheese, gazpacho made with both fresh and roasted vegetables, crab cakes sumptuous with lobster meat, orange zest, and mace. It's a star-spangled celebration.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Sheila Lukins's USA Cookbook celebrates American cooking as seen through the enthusiastic eyes of one of the nation's most popular cooks and successful cookbook authors. The 600-plus recipes in this hefty book include exuberant versions of American classics like tomato soup and chocolate pudding, and updated takes on classics, inspired by dishes Lukins sampled at food festivals, restaurants, and in homes she visited all over the country. Lukins also shares recipes gathered from eateries whose specialties are the gold standard, including Sonny Bryan's Onion Rings from Kansas City, Missouri, Goode's BBQ Mop from Houston, and Blue Wally Pancakes from Al's Breakfast in Minneapolis, to name a few. Shaker Cranberry Brisket, Chili Chicken Salad, and Low Country Bread Pudding are more examples of Lukins in top form, adding her own creative yet comfortable and crowd-pleasing twists to classic regional dishes.

Use this book when cooking for company and to add a lift to family meals. Without leaving you buried in the kitchen, whatever you make will add a soupcon of sophistication--and gain compliments for the cook.

From the Back Cover

In a great, friendly, and indispensable book, Sheila Lukins, America's most trusted home cook and co-author of The Silver Palate Cookbooks and The New Basics Cookbook, rediscovers, interprets, and transforms the best of American tastes and ingredients. Over 600 recipes, from Roasted and Fresh Vegetable Gazpacho to Smothered Beef Shanks, Super Bowl Clambake to Chocolate-Pecan Banana Cream Pie, combine the sophisticated and homespun to create pure culinary dazzle. Pride of place is given throughout to fresh and dried chiles, wild rice, Walla Walla onions, Western beef, cranberries, maple syrup, morels, and seafood right from our bays, rivers, and oceans. Featuring great American wines, beers, and cheese, plus regional and holiday specialties with a twist.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 605 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; 1st edition (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563058073
• ISBN-13: 978-1563058073
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #999,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sheila Lukins, one of America's best-known and best-loved food writers, was the co-founder of the legendary Silver Palate take-out shop. Her celebrated cookbooks, written alone and with her Silver Palate partner, Julee Rosso, helped change the way America's eats. For the past 23 years, she was also the Food editor of Parade Magazine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent General Cookbook, December 31, 2003

By 

Melissa Kaye (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U.S.A. Cookbook (Hardcover)

I am a cookbook addict (I have 100+ cookbooks in my collection) and the USA Cookbook is one of my favorites! Sheila Lukins has a wonderful collection of recipes in this book. Many times I buy cookbooks thinking that the recipes sound great, and then I never actually make anything. I didn't have that problem with this book as I've made several different dishes. There's a cherry ice cream recipe in it that my family really enjoys!

This is a great general cookbook to have on hand. It covers a variety of dishes and the recipes are simple enough for most cooks to manage easily. (You might want to note that I am the kind of cook who likes to make things from scratch, but I'm not always in the mood for something really complicated, either). Because the recipes are delicious, simple, and would appeal to most people, this book would be a great gift for someone who likes to cook.

One of the things I enjoy most about this book is its style. The author includes informational commentary about regional cuisine and useful food facts besides just the recipes. I think this is what prompted me to purchase another one of her cookbooks, The New Basics. I think I like this book a little better, but both are wonderful.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong Collection of Americana Food, February 22, 2001

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: U.S.A. Cookbook (Paperback)

This is amazing collection from around the country, and she describes the places where she dined and found these dishes. She is knowledgable chef, as her work with the Silver Palate fame shows.

In this work, she organizes different from other cookbooks: this is by type of meal, i.e. Coffee Break, Dinnertime, Cocktail Hour, etc. Neat Approach!

I'm about venturing out and stretching myself with such as Berrty-Stewed Rabbit and Sour Cherry Lamb Shanks, but there is also the solid favorites as Fried Chicked served "Super Crispy Buttermilk" style and other red, white and blue favorites.

This is good, solid cookbook for a new cook or bride, etc. Great as a gift. I've given this one and received compliments for its usefulness. Much to explore in this excellent researched and presented huge volume (over 600 pages.)

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Delicious, March 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: U.S.A. Cookbook (Paperback)

There are a lot of really nice recipes in this books. The cakes and muffins in particular turn out well. The lemon poppyseed loaf, zucchini loaf and breakfast muffins are recipes I keep returning to time after time. A lot of the main dish recipes are quite time consuming to prepare and have a lot of ingredients in them but can be worth it. This book is really for the person who likes to spend time cooking and not if you can only spend a half an hour to fix dinner. Although I love this book my one complaint would be the high fat content of alot of the recipes. In some of them you would know that it is just not necessary - for example - a whole cup of oil that is not drained off in the Jambalaya. It is not for those watching their weight or their cholesterol.