Americas Best Lost Recipes: 121 heirloom recipes too good to forget

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 at 6:25 am

Manufacturer: Cook's Illustrated
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Product Description

Cook's Country magazine, published by the indefatigable America's Test Kitchen, also home to Cook's Illustrated magazine, culls homey recipes from cooks nationwide. America's Best Lost Recipes contains 120 of these traditional family formulas, judged worthy of modern attention. These include the likes of Summer Squash Soufflé, Poor Boy Stroganoff, Almond Crescents with Burnt Butter Icing, and Clara's Chocolate Torte.

As with other America's Test Kitchen efforts, the goal has been to present "best" versions of favorite dishes. Original recipes have thus been tweaked where necessary (for example, extra yeast has been added to a monkey bread formula to speed its preparation) to ensure convenient, tasty results. Included also are "biographical" notes that place recipes in context, and useful tips that explore the testing process and thus provide technical insights. Color photos and a spiral-bound book add to the attractiveness of this tempting collection. --Arthur Boehm

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Customer Reviews

Can't wait to try another recipe...

Review Date: November 3, 2007

Reviewer: Plum Mojo, Pine City, MN USA

I have had this cookbook for a week now and have made 4 of the recipes. Each one turned out great, and I can't wait to try another. The Phantom Stew recipe was the best stew I have ever made. These recipes are home-cooking from scratch, no mixes. It's like finding old recipes in Grandma's recipe box. I really like the test kitchen tips and the pictures on assembling, etc. If you have little ones around, the "Fluffies" pancake recipe is a must. I even used wheat flour in place of white and they were excellent! I love this cookbook and would recommend it to anyone who likes to cook/bake from scratch and isn't afraid to try new (old) things!

A Long Lost Treasure Chest

Review Date: December 11, 2007

Reviewer: M. Peters, Earth

I love this cookbook. In typical Cook's Illustrated style all the recipes use ingredients that are easily found in any grocery store and contain directions that are detailed and easily followed along with photo illustrations for some of the more complicated steps. I can understand why some people thumb through the cookbook and don't think the recipes look good, some of them sound disgusting by the title alone (Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake - sounds very unappetizing but the sauerkraut adds moisture to the cake and a texture that is coconut like. The end result has no sauerkraut flavor. Oh and it is sinfully delicious!).

My only complaint is that some of the recipes weren't all that lost. Granted in a few cases ATK offers a twist on the recipe (Real carrot cake uses a rum glaze instead of the standard cream cheese frosting). But in a few cases the recipe seems just like the one I was already using (Gram's Doughnuts - though very good - wasn't different from the other doughnut recipes I had in any of my other cookbooks).

If you get a chance, thumb through the book before you buy it. It certainly won't be for everyone. But right now this is my favorite cookbook. The Monkey Bread and Just Chicken Pie alone are worth the price of admission.

Glad someone "found" them!

Review Date: November 24, 2007

Reviewer: Joy Windle, Chester County, PA

ATK scores again. Page after page of wonderful, everyday recipes. I tried three in the first week and will definitely use them again. L Interesting enough for the seasoned cook, but not intimidating for the beginner. I also appreciate the editorial notes when the ATK chefs modified the original recipe. ove the wire binding inside the hard cover because it protects the wire from counter splatters while allowing the book to stay open to the recipe. Just a little sorry my family's "Peppernut" cookie didn't make the cut.

Wonderful recipes and wonderful stories

Review Date: June 29, 2008

Reviewer: new mom, los angeles, ca

I got this from the library and then had to order it. I've tried four recipes and they are all wonderful. My husband, who doesn't really like ham, loved the Ham Pie. The Blueberry bait boy is wonderful. The Kolaches were very tasty, low in calories and little sugar. The Ruskas were good (although could use a little more spice)but the dough was amazing and I'm going to use it in other recipes. I'm eager to try more.

The stories were an interesting read especially those that were invented in times of shortage.

For those others who wrote critiques. It would be nice if you had put what the error was you found.

Americas Best Lost recipes

Review Date: November 28, 2007

Reviewer: D. Applebeck,

Loved this book. Pictures and stories were very interesting to read from each recipe. I had and older friend over and she loved seeing some old cookie recipes nobody seems to make anymore. Can't wait to make them for her this Christmas. Very Good Book!