What's your favorite recipe in the cookbook: Cooks Illustrated Best Recipes.

Question

My husband shocked me by bringing home CI's New Best Recipes from the library last night: 1000 recipes! This constitutes contributing to the insanity of a spouse. It's a library book - I can't cook them all, but if you tell me your favorite recipes, I'll try those. If you have the old cookbook (the original CI Best Recipes), no worries, because all of those recipes are included in this new book, along with 500 more. So, what's your favorite?

Jennifer W. · Answer

This is a tried and true resource in my kitchen and I actually like their systematic approach to recipe experimenting.... Anyways the Cinnamon Swirl Bread, Rich and Tender Yellow Cake, Flourless Chocolate cake, German chocolate cake, Chocolate chip cookies, and Pizza dough recipes are all really good. Id say try the Yellow cake recipe just because the method is different and the recipe is very consistent.

Randy · Answer

I love their shows and their recipes. It's where I first learned to brine. And I think Chris Kimball and the rest of the group are a hoot. Don't know if it's in this cookbook, but their Steakhouse Burger recipe is great. You use a leaner blend of meat - 90/10 - and add a panade and bacon fat. The panade keeps it moist, though not that meatloaf type texture that I wouldn't like.

mainecook61 · Answer

The recipe for popovers works every time.

Diane B. · Answer

This is my go to cookbook. Chocolate chip cookies, layer cake, rolled cookies, cole slaw, potato salad, pancakes you name it. The recipes may not be exotic, but they always work.

dawn T. · Answer

I always get rave reviews when I bake their NY Style Cheesecake and especially when I take it in other directions (dark chocolate, chocolate chips, key lime, etc.). And their Key Lime Pie is to die for!

Blissful B. · Answer

Thank you!

TiggyBee · Answer

pierino, how do I love thee, let me count the ways!

hardlikearmour · Answer

I love their coconut layer cake.  Coconut cream pie is really good too.  Yeasted cinnamon rolls.  Shrimp Fra Diavolo.  Arugula and Roasted Pear Salad.  Butterflied Grilled Chicken.  Campanelli w/ Asparagus, Basil, and Balsamic Glaze.  Pasta and Tomato Sauce w/ Vodka and Cream.  Molasses Spice Cookies.  Pecan Pie (esp if you sub Lyle's Golden Syrup for the corn syrup.)  Sour Cherry Cobbler.

Melusine · Answer

Just one?  I used this book to help teach my boyfriend to bake, and he gets raves every time his classic brownies appear at his office.  The cream scones turn out well; I add dried cranberries and orange zest.  Waffle and pancake batters are terrific.  And, typing this, I just realized I use this almost exclusively for baking.  Hmmmm.....

arielleclementine · Answer

I love this cookbook! My favorite recipes are for Quiche Lorraine (which is infinitely adaptable), Strawberry Shortcake, Creamy Tomato Soup (I love their technique of roasting the canned whole tomatoes before pureeing), and Chicken Pot Pie (I use shredded roasted chicken instead of the poached breasts that they call for, and top with Ina Garten's biscuits).  Happy cooking!

fiveandspice · Answer

Though I agree with pierino that their approach can be somewhat "lab-ratish" and overly fusty (and Christopher Kimball can be more than just a wee bit grating on the nerves), this book does have some great recipes and can be a good resource for learning about the chemistry of cooking.  I mostly use it for their desserts because that's where I find exact recipes most helpful, and I love the bread pudding and the cream scones.  (I did not like their apple pie!)  I also found their beef stir fry to be quite good.

pierino · Answer

None. I'm a skeptic of "America's Test Kitchen" lab rat approach to "the best". That should not surprise you.

What's your favorite recipe in the cookbook: Cooks Illustrated Best Recipes.

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