The Best American Recipes 2001-2002 (edition 2001)

Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0618128107, Hardcover)

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