What is a best American recipe? It's simple but sophisticated. It tastes exceptional. It's one you want to make again and are dying to share with your friends. It introduces a surprisingly easy technique or gives you a new way to use a favorite ingredient. It produces the best possible version of a dish. For this edition, Fran McCullough, one of the nation's most respected cookbook editors, and Molly Stevens, a cookbook author and contributing editor for Fine Cooking, searched through hundreds of sources and then selected the very best -- 150 recipes in all. You'll find recipes from the biggest names in food, such as the celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Bobby Flay; from esteemed cookbook authors, including Marion Cunningham and Deborah Madison; and from renowned food journalists, like Gourmet's Ruth Reichl and the New York Times's Amanda Hesser. You'll also get superlative recipes from home cooks, such as a scene-stealing side dish and an heirloom holiday dessert. The Best American Recipes includes notes on the most popular ingredients, time-saving techniques, and the most useful kitchen tools. With crowd-pleasing recipes like Party Cheese Crackers, such weeknight suppers as Simple Salmon, and special-occasion dishes including Spice-Rubbed Turkey and Chocolate Truffle Cake, The Best American Recipes equips you with everything you need to be the most confident cook on the block.