Best of the Best from America: Preserving Our Food Heritage One State at a Time (Best of the Best Cookbook)

8 May 2012 - I recently started collecting Gwen McKee's Best of the Best cookbooks after reading numerous reviews. I chose my first recipe from this book and prepared it for dinner this evening. In that my son loves sauerkraut I decided to try the BAKED SWEET SAURKRAUT WITH TOMATOES AND BACON (page 193). IT WAS NASTY AND UNSALVAGABLE AND I THREW IT ALL AWAY!!I can't imagine that the ladies who authored this series of cookbooks actually tried this recipe out before choosing to include it in their cookbook. I originally approached the recipes contained in this and other Gwen McKee cookbooks as being 'tried and true'...but I was wrong.-Now I don't have as much faith in the other recipe I wanted to try next, Baked Chicken Reuben (page 112).How disheartening.

This is a great series of cookbooks. You have to be careful with recipes. Some people have an idea of a great recipe that may not gel with your own. No disappointments here so far! These ladies take the best from around the country and sift them down to the very best. If you like to cook delicious & hearty American food, this book is for you!

I wore out my first copy of this book (5 years old) so I was pleased I could get the same edition from Amazon.

Not as good as I expected. For all the work that was put into the book, I didn't see a lot of variety. Michigan is well known for the pasties.....where are they?

Not only are the recipes ones you want to try, but also their tidbits of information and pictures make you want to visit, even though it's places you've been to before. This is a must have for any cookbook collector, as well asany one who loves to travel and eat locally. A great food and travel journal!

I really haven't made anything from this book yet so I guess nothing in it really made me hungry so guess I SHOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN

This book presents a wide range of unpretentious recipes from across the U.S. It is something that could only have come from these two amazing women who have been to all these places and sampled a large variety of local foods. The story alone is enough to make it an good book; but one thing makes it an unexceptional cookbook - poor editing. For example, one recipe states to bake for a given time but gives no oven temperature. Another states to add cooked shrimp and then bake until the shrimp are cooked. With so many recipes, you will be sure to find ones that work just fine. However, it is disappointing that a book with so much potential is flawed by poor editing.

This is, by far, the best cookbook I have ever owned! I have tried many of the recipes in this book with outstanding results. The cookbook does not go on the shelf...it stays right out on my counter. The recipes are easy to follow and yummy. My husband and I have started to rate every new dish that I make from this cookbook on a scale of one to ten...and I write comments and possible modifications in the margins. It has become a real buddy and I look forward to trying something new. There is plenty to choose from. This would make a great gift...especially to a person who is not overly comfortable in the kitchen, LIKE ME! This is a purchase worth every penny!