Serves: 5

Of all the places Barbara and I have traveled, the beautiful Northeast stands out as a place we always recommend people do not miss. Since my daughter lives south of Boston, we go there often, and are never without awe at the sights, sounds, history, feeling, and yes, tastes of this glorious part of our country. Pennsylvania is also a state we love tooling around in on frequent trips to be on QVC, as well as walking the streets of Manhattan when we visit friends. Though the touristy places are numerous in every state, it seems there is always something to see at every turn that catches your eye and your fancy. There are so many big cities to explore, so many small off-the-beaten-path roads to take you to an Amish farm or a lighthouse or an old country store, or lure you into an old diner or a cozy bed and breakfast.

Traveling to every state in the United States in search of the best cookbooks and recipes took Barbara Moseley and me the better part of 27 years. What started in our home state of Mississippi with one cookbook, grew to include our neighboring states, then as each one neared completion, we reached out farther and farther away from home to explore the cuisines of states far and wide. The experience has been one that has enabled us to bring home each new state’s recipes to become ours forever.

But nothing seems so special and dear as when you share it with others who you know will enjoy it as much as you do. Our BEST OF THE BEST STATE COOKBOOKS feature chosen favorite recipes that we are proud to have brought from each state home to you, wherever you are. I wish we could introduce you to the many people we have met in every state who were proud of their cooking heritage and eager to show us just how good their recipes were, and are! Sometimes it was a particular local ingredient, or the way they kneaded the dough, or browned the flour, or marinated the meat, or maybe a secret method they used to make something particularly unique to their way of cooking. It has truly been a delicious experience!

Of course, the local food and fare are a big part of the entire experience. From Boston Cream Pie to New York Cheesecake to Philly Cheese Steak, traditions in food are alive through the recipes and stories and historical facts within these pages that take you to the incomparable Northeast. Enjoy the journey.
Gwen McKee

More Recipes from the Best of the Best from The Northeast Cookbook Cookbook:
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