Master Recipes
In 1987, Stephen Schmidt wrote the first edition of Master Recipes, a compendium of more than 1,000 recipes for favorite...
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(12/07/08) In 1987, Stephen Schmidt wrote the first edition of Master Recipes, a compendium of more than 1,000 recipes for favorite American dishes. It also included crème brûlée and some other tempting, less American detours. Contributing to the new Joy of Cooking has raised Schmidt's profile, and Master Recipes remains one of the best, most comprehensive teaching cookbooks ever written. Drawing on his expertise as an instructor, in this second edition of Master Recipes, Schmidt focuses on providing fundamental culinary knowledge. Each Master Recipe is used to teach the basics that apply to many other, similar recipes. Thus, once you can make Old-Fashioned Chicken Stew with Vegetables and Cream Gravy, you are equipped to also toss off a curried stew, pot pie, stew with dumplings, Chicken à la King or Tetrazzini, and New England Boiled Dinner made with cooked beef.
Schmidt writes clearly, using a very specific format. Every Master Recipe is followed by variations that refer liberally to it....See less