The BEST of America's Test Kitchen 2008

My MIL gave me the newest book yesterday. Cooks Illustrated http://www.cooksillustrated.com/ is my favorite cooking magazine..but it is so much more and so is this book! She got it at Barnes and Noble but you can get it cheaper at http://www.amazon.com. It contains "The Years Best Recipes, Equipment Reviews, and Tastings".

Example from the book:

page 59, Zucchini and Tomato Tian

after the recipe is described (one has to slice a bunch of tomatoes and zucchini), they suggest the best and least expensive mandoline is the Pyrex Slicer at just $5.99. Cheaper than a food processor and faster and sharper than a kitchen knife.

What is the best Balsamic Vinegar, which is also affordable? They suggest Lucini Gran Riserva Balsamico...$2.00 an ounce.

What is the best Curry Powder? Penzeys Sweet Curry Powder at $4.39.

Best Mango Chutney? The Silver Palate Mango Chutney..no price given.

Best Soy Sauce? Lee Kum Kee Tabletop Soy Sauce and the artisan-made Ohsawa Nama Shoyu Organic Unpasteurized Soy Sauce.

Best Hamburger Buns? Pepperidge Farm Premium Bakery Rolls...least amount of sugar and "wheaty taste".

Best Cider Vinegars? Maille Apple cider Vinegar and Spectrum Naturals Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

Best Canned Crushed Tomatoes? Tuttorosso Crushed Tomatoes in thick Puree with Basil and Muir Glen Organic Crushed with Basil.

Best Whole Canned Tomatoes? They say Progresso "Italian" style whole peeled with Basil...and they say to be sure and get the ones 'packed in juice and NOT in puree'.. as the other Progresso whole canned product is blander. [ I prefer Muir Glen Fire Roasted whole canned tomatoes].

Best beer to use for stew in slow cooker? Guinness Draught. [I prefer it out of the slow cooker]


Best Wine Opener? Screwpull Trigger for $79.95...but there is one cheaper and almost as useful for $34.95..Wine Enthusiast QuickSilver Deluxe Corkscrew Set.

Best Pepper Mill? Unicorn Magnum Plus at $45.00.

Best Knives?

Paring=Forschner Fibrox for $5.95
10 in bread knife=Forschner Fibrox for $36.00
8 in Chefs knife=Forschner Fibrox for $22.95
Cleaver=Global $106 or Lamsonsharp at $40.00
Slicing/Carving=Chef Culery Legend 10 in Granton Slicer at $45.00
Boning=another Forshcner at $18.00
Electric=Black and Decker EK800at $24.99

I paid $90.00 for one Wusthof!


I do wish the equipment was reviewed seperately from the recipes...but I still love it! You get the idea. It'll be your new favorite cookbook.