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Summary: Wish I'd Had This Sooner
Review: A friend faxed me the recipe for"The Amazing Five Hour Duck" early in November and, as cynical as I am about anything that sounds like hype, this is truly the best duck that I--or anyone I have served it to--has ever had. Incredibly moist meat and that crisp, crackling skin that is almost impossible to acheive. I finally bought a copy of the book for myself a couple of weeks ago and I strongly recommend the Black Bean Burgers and the Mussels in India pale ale. Like the wine suggestions, too...
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Summary: So impressive that I ordered "The Best American Recipes 2000
Review: A great collection of 110 marvelous recipes. What "Best American Recipes" lacks in photos (only 9) it atones for in proven, field tested, recipes. From thousands of recipes, from a plethora of sources (magazines, newspapers, Internet, cookbooks, etc.) McCullough and Hamlin edited down to these select 110. And their selections are all top drawer. I have used a half dozen so far and every one of them have be very good to great. Do try the "Jamaican Rice and Peas" along with "Flamed Roast Fish a la Sophia Loren" - Excellent! I do wish they would have included more photos, 9 for 110 recipes is very skimpy - this is the only reason that the book is not "Highly Recommended". However, this book is so impressive that I have already ordered "The Best American Recipes 2000".
Rating:
Summary: So impressive that I ordered "The Best American Recipes 2000
Review: A great collection of 110 marvelous recipes. What "Best American Recipes" lacks in photos (only 9) it atones for in proven, field tested, recipes. From thousands of recipes, from a plethora of sources (magazines, newspapers, Internet, cookbooks, etc.) McCullough and Hamlin edited down to these select 110. And their selections are all top drawer. I have used a half dozen so far and every one of them have be very good to great. Do try the "Jamaican Rice and Peas" along with "Flamed Roast Fish a la Sophia Loren" - Excellent! I do wish they would have included more photos, 9 for 110 recipes is very skimpy - this is the only reason that the book is not "Highly Recommended". However, this book is so impressive that I have already ordered "The Best American Recipes 2000".
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Summary: The Best Turkey
Review: 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.
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Summary: Over rated !
Review: After preparing four recipes out of this book, lamb, polenta, torte and blood orange salad, I think the editors forgot to try the recipes they included. I better choice for those interested would be to subscribe to Food and Wine!
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Summary: HAMLIN AND McCULLOUGH RULE!
Review: An extraordinary achievement,which in the hands of lesser editors could have been a culinary joke or worse, a disaster. The care that Hamlin and McCullough put into the book is everywhere evident: graceful headnotes for each recipe, and tips about cooking based on real experience not only with these recipes, but a lifetime of food exploration and cultivated taste. A wonderful pastiche of ideas, from fine French chefs to able American home cooks. We have the editors to thank for scanning books, magazines, newspapers and newsletters, the net, and any other print-capable media, to choose these 100+ gems. As an experienced cook, I don't normally work from recipes, but I find myself developing a new discipline in the kitchen: following the recipe to the letter, based on trust and admiration for Hamlin and McCullough. Truly, these are the Best American Recipes. Bravo!
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Summary: My best kitchen friend
Review: Best cookbook I've ever purchased. My family still talks about my Christmas turkey that I marinated in apple cider vinegar and apple juice. All 13 dinner guests ranked it their favorite Christmas dinner. Many of the recipes are now considered "keepers" by my husband, imagine a lamb dish with oranges and anchovies--it's fabulous. I even travel to my daughter's home with this book.
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Summary: Applause!
Review: 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!
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Summary: Collection from multiple sources of Great Recipes
Review: Here is what some of us do--collect recipes from all kinds of varying sources, sorted through and published in book form. Tried few recipes thus far, and each lives up to rating: Scallop and Corn Chowder, unique Ricotta Hot Cakes with Honeycomb butter, Port-and-Black-Currant Glazed Chicken Thighs,Roasted Potatoes with Garlic,Lemon and Oregano. For a different closing meal treat, try "Roasted Apricots with Sugared Pecans and Dulce de Leche. It's simple and sooo sooo good! Unique--simple--- zipped up kind of cuisine, with outstanding variety of cuisines and sources--- great collection for varying levels of cook levels. Neat feature is wine offerings with each entree suggested.
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Summary: Great Techniques -- Great Recipes
Review: I am one of those cooks that has never had any formal training (beyond my mother/grandmother) -- so I appreciate the teaching and conversation beyond the recipe. For example, the book details homemade chicken soup and the technique for making an excellent base. This lets me experiment and expand on the ingredients that I like -- so that I can build my "perfect" recipe. The recipes have all turned out well and at the same time, have taught me a lot about cooking. This is an excellent book for an aspiring home cook.
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