Best of America (The American family cooking library) by Capalbo, Carla (1999) Hardcover

This is a VERY nice cookbook, for a lot of reasons. It's pretty enough for the cocktail table, and can interest novice cooks and experienced cooks alike. I received the hardcover version of this book as a gift almost 40 years ago, and I have purchased extra copies for friends and family since then. The book is divided up into different chapters including: New England & The Mid-Atlantic States, The South, The Midwest, The Southwest, California, and The Northwest. Note, the book comes in different sizes. There is a large hardcover sized book, and a paperback cover which is much smaller. Obviously, the hardcover book is geared to lasting much longer than the paperback version.Whether you choose the hardcover or paperback, the book is loaded with high quality photographs, each dish beautifully presented, using fairly easy to make quality recipes with available ingredients. Many recipes feature step by step photos.The New England & Mid-Atlantic States chapter does a good job representing the region with recipes like Cape Cod Fried Clams, Maryland Crab Cakes with Tartare Sauce, Maine Grilled Lobster Dinner, Crab Stuffed Flounder, Yankee Pot Roast, Brunswick Stew, Boston Baked Beans, Boston Cream Pie, Harvard Beets, Red Flannel Hash with Corned Beef, Dutch Fried Tomatoes, Boston Brown Bread, Apple Brown Betty, and Vermont Baked Maple Custard, etc.The South includes such recipes as: Shrimp & Corn Bisque, Crab Bayou, Cajun Popcorn (shrimp) with Basil Mayonnaise, Crayfish or Prawn Etouffe, Seafood Sausage Gumbo, Ham with Redeye Gravy, Smothered Rabbit, Pecan Stuffed Pork Chops, Blackened Chicken Breast, Corn Maque Choux, Spring Greens & Rice, Dirty Rice, Hush Puppies, Charleston Cheese Corn Bread, French Quarter Beignets, Georgia Peanut Butter Pie, Pecan Pralines, Mississippi Mud Cake, Southern Ambrosia, and more.The Midwest features: Split Pea Soup, Vegetable Chili, Stuffed Celery Sticks (with cream cheese, blue cheese, sour cream and walnuts), Chicago Deep Pan Pizza, Pirozshki with Ham Filling, Country Meat Loaf, Spareribs & Sauerkraut, Baked Pork Loin with Red Cabbage & Apples, Mashed Carrots & Parsnips, Baked Acorn Squash with Herbs, Corn Fritters, Wisconsin Cheddar & Chive Biscuits, Pickled Cucumbers & Onion, Pickled Eggs & Beetroot, Huckleberry Cake, Rhubarb Pie, Apple Fritters, Cherry Compote, Black Walnut Layer Cake, and more.The Southwest section has: Navajo Fry Bread, Tortilla Soup, Spicy Bean Soup, Desert Nachos (not dessert), Huevos Rancheros, Santa Fe Prawn Salad, Black Bean Burritos, Black Bean Chilli, Red Snapper with Coriander Salsa, Galveston Chicken, Turkey Breasts with Tomato Corn Salsa, Turkey & Chorizo Tacos, Pork Chops with Sour Green Chili Salsa, Pork Fajitas, Lamb Stew with Cornmeal Dumplings, Lone Star Steak & Potatoes, Guacamole, Tomato Rice, Bean Dip, Flan, Mexican Hot Fudge Sundaes, Pueblo Pastelitos, Beef Enchiladas and more.The California cuisine chapter includes: Gazpacho, Crab Louis, Poolside Tuna Salad, 3 Bean & Lentil Salad, San Francisco Chicken Wings, Cheesy Courgette (zucchini) Casserole, Tangerine Soy Marinated Salmon, Cioppino, Lemon Chicken with Guacamole Sauce, Pouissons with Raisins and Walnut Stuffing, Fusilli with Turkey Tomatoes and Broccoli, Turkey Meat Loaf, Chicken with White Wine Olives and Garlic, Pork Chops with Chilli and Nectarine Relish, Roast Leg of Lamb with Pesto, Aubergine (eggplant) Ratatouille, Garlicky Sauteed Courgettes, Herbed Goat Cheese Dip, Avocado Dressing, Zinfandel Poached Pears, Baked Peaches with Raspberry Sauce, Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Parfait, Pina Colada Fruit Salad, Lemon Pound Cake and more.The Northwest includes: Salmon Chowder, Smoked Turkey & Lentil Soup, Tomato & Blue Cheese Soup with Bacon, Macaroni & Blue Cheese, Smoked Trout Pasta Salad, Trout & Bacon Hash, Stuffed Potato Skins, Pasta with Scallops, Salmon with Sizzling Herbs, Pork Braised in Beer, Pork Chops with Cider & Apples, Oregon Blue Cheese Burgers, Steak with Mushrooms and Leeks in Red Wine, Idaho Beef Stew, Cauliflower au Gratin, Wild Rice Pilaf, Smoked Salmon & Dill Spread, White Hot CHocolate, Easy Hazelnut Fudge, Blackberry Cbbler, Baked Apples, Northwestern Brown Betty, Blueberry & Hazelnut Cheesecake, and more.