The fourth edition of the classic reference, with updated information and recipes reflecting contemporary trends and methods­--plus, for the first time, color photography throughout.

The quick, easy, creative, and full-of-flavor sauces in The Complete Book of Pasta Sauces get you from here to dinner in a flash.

Bernard Clayton, Jr.'s, first book, "The Complete Book of Breads," won the coveted Tastemaker cookbook award and was praised by Craig Claiborne as perhaps the best book on the subject in the English language. Of Clayton's "The Complete Book of Pastry," which also received a Tastemaker award, Claiborne said: "One of the most important cookbooks of this year if not this decade." Now this highly respected author turns his attention to soups and stews. From his travels around the world, Clayton has put together an eclectic collection of 250 soup recipes and 50 stew recipes, adding to the clear instructions personal anecdotes and historical background throughout. He covers a wide range of soups, from Asparagus-and-Crab to Peach-Buttermilk. American classics such as New England Chowder, Burgoo and U.S. Senate Bean Soup share the spotlight with such international gems as Japanese "Shabu-Shabu," Nigerian Peanut Soup and Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup. After a thorough discussion of the many kinds of stocks, from Brown Stock to Vegetable Stock, Mr. Clayton includes, for those of us who are lazy, the pros and cons of homemade versus storebought stock, along with tricks and tips to improve the later. With recipes that are well written and easy to follow, Clayton shows that soup-making is neither time-consuming nor difficult, and in any case is well worth the effort.

Forget about those fattening supermarket dressings. You do have an alternative. Making your own dressings at home is not only more healthful and more affordable, it is remarkably easy. The more than 100 dressings in this book can be whisked together quickly or prepared in a blender or food processor in seconds. Best of all, they taste great! And as Paulette Mitchell explains, these recipes will introduce you to a whole new repertoire of toppings for chicken, seafood, pasta, grains, beans, vegetables, greens, fruit salads, and more. The recipe introductions include some of her favorite enticing salad combinations, and you'll also find a handy chart with serving suggestions at the back of the book. Paulette suggests these dressings for pasta salads: Basil-Sherry Vinaigrette, page 31 Creamy Lemon-Caper Dressing, page 93 Honey-Dijon Dressing, page 107 Creamy Parmesan-Peppercorn Dressing, page 94 The Complete Book of Dressings offers flavors for every palate, from cool and creamy to exotic and spicy. Try them all and unleash your creativity. Some of Paulette's tips for successful salads: Most homemade dressings improve in flavor if allowed to sit for half an hour before serving, but remember to shake, stir, or whisk them just before adding to a salad. For a change, mix and match temperatures; serve a warm vinegar-and-oil dressing over chilled or room-temperature ingredients.

"Here is yet another cookbook that can stand among the best reference works. I suspect it′s a harbinger of kindred books to come as publishers begin to respond to a growing audience of cook–readers who hunger for connected, nuanced, reliably researched information.." ––Gourmet Magazine "James Peterson has done for sauces that which Escoffier did for the cuisine of La Belle Epoque.. Sauces is a manual for the professional cook and, as such, it will rapidly become a classic and indispensable reference.." ––Richard Olney, From the Foreword "It′s the single contemporary reference on the subject that is both comprehensive and comprehensible. I love Jim′s recipes (and there are gems all over the place here), but what′s special about Sauces is the text: It reads so well that this is the kind of book you can take to bed." ––Mark Bittman, From the Foreword "This is a book I wish I had written myself.. Every few decades a book is written that says all there is to say on a subject, or has all the information and passion that sets the standard for professional and amateurs alike. Sauces is one of the best culinary books of this century in English.." ––Jeremiah Tower, Stars Restaurant "The art of sauce making is the cornerstone of serious cooking. This book is a must for the new generation of creative cooks who wish to build on the classical French foundation with contemporary, delicious variations." ––Daniel Boulud, Daniel "It is a special reference book––comprehensive and inspiring.." ––Alice Waters, Chez Panisse

Williams takes readers through the basics of sauce-making and provides special tips on each kind of preparation, with cross indexes that match the sauces according to their compatibility with meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, pasta, and desserts. Includes over 300 recipes for white and brown sauces, tomato-based sauces, mayonnaises, fruit and sweet sauces, and more. 80 illustrations.

The ultimate starter guide to making globally inspired hot sauces at home The Hot Sauce Cookbook will have you wiping your brow, chugging water, and helping yourself to seconds. Using a variety of chiles and easy-to-find ingredients like vinegar and red pepper flakes, this comprehensive beginner's guide shows you how to prepare 49 different sauces from scratch. Find clear, safe instructions for everything from choosing chile peppers, to blending and bottling, to storing the finished product. You'll explore tips for executing the perfect sauce and discover recipes like Smooth Salsa Verde and Papaya Chili Sauce that hail from all over the world. Hot sauce basics—Learn the core components of any hot sauce, how the heat level is measured, and a little bit of hot sauce history. Pepper profiles—Explore the unique qualities of 29 different chiles, including how they look and taste, how hot they are, and where they grow. Complementary recipes—Find 27 recipes that pair perfectly with your new sauces, like Curried Cauliflower and Buttermilk Fried Chicken. Turn up the heat and expand your palate with an international collection of hot sauce recipes.