Home cooks and professional chefs alike have come to rely on The Best American Recipes as an indispensable resource whenever they need dazzling results, brilliant simplicity, and can't-fail recipes. Compiled by two of the culinary world's most respected professionals, The Best American Recipes brings together coveted dishes and kitchen secrets from the widest possible range of food writers and luminaries, from Alice Waters to Marcella Hazan. To create this book, editors Fran McCullough and Molly Stevens did all the work for you, testing hundreds of recipes from sources as diverse as the season's most illustrious cookbook and the back of an herb packet, often trying dozens of possibilities to winnow out all but the very best. Nothing less would do. Among the recipes in this book that are certain to find their way into your permanent repertoire:* La Brea Tar Pit Chicken Wings -- easy-on-the-host finger food that will be the talk of your party. * Cream of Cauliflower Soup -- kids at the private school where this soup was served for lunch actually begged their parents to get the recipe. * Spaghetti with Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes -- a Boston chef's favorite at-home supper, terrific all year round. * Spiced Skirt Steak -- nothing easier, nothing better. * Bok Choy with Shiitakes -- you can make this in less time than it takes your guests to find their seats.* Brown Sugar-Sour Cream Cheesecake -- if this isn't the best cheesecake you've ever tasted, we'll eat this book.Fran McCullough has discovered, edited, and published many of the country's most distinguished cookbook writers. She is the author of the best-selling Low-Carb Cookbook and of Living Low-Carb, The Good Fat, and Great Food Without Fuss, which won a James Beard Award.Molly Stevens is the James Beard and IACP Award-winning author of All About Braising, the coauthor of One Potato, Two Potato, and a contributing editor for Fine Cooking.Mario Batali's award-winning restaurants include Babbo, Lupa, Esca, Casa Mono, Otto, and Bistro du Vent. He is the star of the Food Network's hit Iron Chef America. He also hosts two shows on the Food Network, Molto Mario and Ciao America with Mario Batali. His latest book is Molto Italiano: Simple Classic Italian Recipes to Cook at Home.