When a writer creates a cookbook, it is always a labor of love. With a book as large as this one, truer words were never spoken. In addition, it was a group effort, with many good friends and colleagues contributing their family favorites. Thanks to Joan Authenrieth, David Bonom, Mary Cleaver, Annie Denver, Norene Gilletz, Barbara Scott Goodman, Beth Hensperger, Dana Jacobi, Katy Keck, Suzanne Kindle, Julie Mitenberger, Michael Northern, Yvonne Ortiz, and Michael Tyrell for their recipes. Thanks also to Laura Baddish for marketing support.
On the business end of my life as a cook and a writer, my agent, Susan Ginsburg, has given me the kind of support that you would possibly expect from a family member, which, after all of the years we’ve worked together, she has become. Her assistant, Stacy Testa, is an invaluable member of our trio.
I am very grateful to my editor at Ballantine, Pamela Cannon, for her priceless help and support from the first day of this book’s conception, and to her assistant, Betsy Wilson, whose efficiency kept us all on track. Alison Masciovecchio and Quinne Rogers helped get the word out. Nancy Delia dealt with the various passes of the book as the massive manuscript went through the editing process. Ann Rolke Smith was my hard-working copy editor. Proofreaders Barbara Greenberg, Maggie Carr, and Muriel Jorgensen did a thorough job. Jacket designer Anna Bauer and book designer Diane Hobbing were responsible for the book’s graphics. And Ben Fink created the beautiful images of the food.
Many of the recipes in this book required a Dutch oven, and Le Creuset sent over some wonderful pots for me to use in testing. Merci.
My readers see two names over and over again in my books. My (now) husband, Patrick Fisher, has cleaned up after me and lent his palate to tasting over twenty-five years of recipe testing. For the same period (which is impossible for me to believe, but true), Diane Kniss has tirelessly worked by my side in the kitchen and been the best friend one could every hope for. Writing a book is never easy, but these two can make it fun.