Cook's Illustrated Index

issuedaterecipepagenotes
54Jan/Feb 2002molasses cookies24
56May/June 2002easy cinnamon buns23
56May/June 2002hot fudge pudding cake25
57July/Aug 2002blueberry cobbler24
57July/Aug 2002leafy salads16
59Nov/Dev 2002sour cream coffee cake7
59Nov/Dev 2002roast 20 lb. turkey19
60Jan/Feb 2003yellow cupcakes with chocolate ganache25easy cupcakes; perfectly fine; not mind blowing
60Jan/Feb 2003sauteed garlic lemon spinach20
61March/April 2003pan roasted chicken breasts14
61March/April 2003Italian pasta and bean soup (fazool)21easy; makes a lot; good!
61March/April 2003glazed lemon cookies23
61March/April 2003rating mayonnaise26Hellmann's; Kraft; Trader Joe's; light: Hellmann's
61March/April 2003canned white beans21Westbrea great northern; Progresso cannellini; Goya cannellini; avoid Eden Navy
62May/June 2003cobb salad8
63July/Aug 2003supermarket barbeque sauces28Bull's-Eye; Stubb's; Lea & Perrins
63July/Aug 2003rating liquid smoke28Wright's; Colgin; Reese. Get Hickory; avoid mesquite
63July/Aug 2003blueberry pancakes19
64Sept/Oct 2003stir fry beef and broccoli11see issues 89 and 123
64Sept/Oct 2003mushroom risotto21
65Nov/Dec 2003rating vanilla26imitation as good as real! Try CVS imitation; see issue 97
66Jan/Feb 2004chocolate bundt cake23
66Jan/Feb 2004hearty lentil soup14best: use French/du Puy lentils (small dark green)
66Jan/Feb 2004skillet apple brown betty25
67March/April 2004classic brownies25not as good as my fudgey ones; a bit too sweet
70Sept/Oct 2004baked chicken breasts11
70Sept/Oct 2004sticky buns22
71Nov/Dec 2004spritz cookies20
72Jan/Feb 2005black bean soup19pretty good - can be made vegan
73March/April 2005dark chocolate cupcakes25but see 104. Good and fudgy
74May/June 2005oatmeal cookies23
75July/Aug 2005blueberry buckle23
75July/Aug 2005Thai stir fry beef with chiles and shallots19
75July/Aug 2005rating white chocolate chips25Guittard by a mile. Avoid Ghirardelli and Nestle.
76Sept/Oct 2005deep dish apple pie23
77Nov/Dec 2005chocolate 10116
78Jan/Feb 2006huevos rancheros9
78Jan/Feb 2006chocolate mousse23
78Jan/Feb 2006sauteed mushrooms15
78Jan/Feb 2006lemon bundt cake25
79March/April 2006pan roasted broccoli20
79March/April 2006marinara sauce11
79March/April 2006Asian potstickers15
79March/April 2006classic chocolate cake23
79March/April 2006multigrain bread25
80May/June 2006rating vanilla ice creams27
81July/Aug 2006peach crumble25
81July/Aug 2006spice rubbed picnic chicken7
82Sept/Oct 2006dinner rolls9
82Sept/Oct 2006arroz con pollo21
83Nov/Dec 2006multigrain pancakes15
83Nov/Dec 2006coq au vin19really delicious
83Nov/Dec 2006chocolate pots de creme23
83Nov/Dec 2006rating olive oil28Columela; Nunez de Prado; Terra Medi; L'estornell; Olio Verde Olio
84Jan/Feb 2007roasted cauliflower20
84Jan/Feb 2007fudge23
84Jan/Feb 2007rating soy sauce26Lee Kum Kee and Ohsawa Nama Shoyu win but see issue 142
84Jan/Feb 2007white chicken chili7good but effortful
84Jan/Feb 2007pound cake25
86May/June 2007NY crumb cake23
88Sept/Oct 2007cast iron vs. non stick pans25
88Sept/Oct 2007chicken tikka masala15best you've ever had
88Sept/Oct 2007beef and vegetable soup8
89Nov/Dev 2007pie dough22
89Nov/Dev 2007biscuits19
89Nov/Dev 2007beef and vegetable stir fry12see issues 64 and 123
90Jan/Feb 2008rating dark chocolate26Callebaut L-60-40NV; Ghirardelli 60%; but see issue 125
90Jan/Feb 2008crispy oatmeal cookies23
91March/April 2008hearty Tuscan bean stew15good not great almost vegetarian
91March/April 2008fluffy yellow cake22
91March/April 2008meringue cookies25
91March/April 2008Italian meat sauce9
92May/June 2008rating veggie broth26Swanson (not organic!); College Inn; Knorr; Imagine (broth not stock!)
92May/June 2008hummus19
92May/June 2008sauteed spinach with pecans and feta21
92May/June 2008rating canned chickpeas19Pastene wins; Goya OK; avoid Progresso and Eden.
95Nov/Dec 2008simple sauteed green beans12
95Nov/Dec 2008rustic dinner rolls15
96Jan/Feb 2009rating maple syrups26Maple Grove Farms grade A amber
96Jan/Feb 2009French toast25
97March/April 2009rating real vs. fake vanilla26McCormick real; Gold Medal imitation; see issue 65
97March/April 2009ciabatta24
98May/June 2009chocolate chip cookies22
98May/June 2009rating chocolate chips28Ghirardelli (60% NOT semi-sweet); Hershey's special dark; Guittard; avoid Nestle
98May/June 2009blueberry muffins21
99July/Aug 2009buttermilk pancakes23
99July/Aug 2009berry gatins25
100Sept/Oct 2009coffee brewing guide16
100Sept/Oct 2009apple upside-down cake23
101Nov/Dec 2009triple chocolate mousse cake21
101Nov/Dec 2009pan seared scallops15
101Nov/Dec 2009French pork and white bean casserole19
101Nov/Dec 2009rating cinnamon28Penzey's Vietnamese; see issue 143
102Jan/Feb 2010beef stew9the best
102Jan/Feb 2010indoor pulled pork7
102Jan/Feb 2010hearty minestrone soup11
102Jan/Feb 2010Thai chicken with basil13
102Jan/Feb 2010Cajun red beans and rice with sausage19
103March/April 2010creamy leek potato soup20
103March/April 2010chewy brownies23too sweet and not chocolatey enough.
103March/April 2010bread pudding25
104May/Jan 2010almost no-stir risotto6
104May/Jan 2010chocolate cupcakes21but see 73
104May/Jan 2010rating vanilla ice cream26Ben & Jerry; Haagen-Dazs
104May/Jan 2010buttermilk waffles24
104May/Jan 2010garlic guide16
105July/Augextreme banana bread25
105July/Augsweet cherry pie23
106Sept/Oct 2010apple crisp25
106Sept/Oct 2010pie dough16
106Sept/Oct 2010fried chicken6
107Nov/Dec 2010sugar cookies25
107Nov/Dec 2010rating baking chocolate28Hershey's (!); avoid Ghirardelli and Baker's
108Jan/Feb 2011chili15
108Jan/Feb 2011thin crust pizza6
108Jan/Feb 2011split pea and ham soup20
108Jan/Feb 2011keys to perfect cookies16
108Jan/Feb 2011gingerbread cake25
108Jan/Feb 2011rating red wine vinegar28Laurent Du Clos; Pompeian
109March/April 2011broccoli cheese soup12
109March/April 2011Boston cream pie15really works including the ganache
109March/April 2011whole wheat sandwich bread24the definitive whole wheat bread recipe. Really good.
109March/April 2011butter 10116
110May/June 2011rating nonfat Greek yogurt28Olympus; Fage; avoid Chobani
110May/June 2011perfect crepes23
110May/June 2011fresh stawberry pie25
110May/June 2011guide to cooking greens16
111July/Aug 2011homemade vanilla ice cream23
111July/Aug 2011rating canned tuna28Wild Planet; American; in general look for premium versions
111July/Aug 2011peach cake25
112Sept/Oct 2011creamy chocolate pudding23Oh yeah. Really good.
112Sept/Oct 2011cranberry nut muffins25
113Nov/Dec 2011farmhouse vegetable and barley soup12
113Nov/Dec 2011rating high-end butters28Plugra; Land O' Lakes
113Nov/Dec 2011roasted Brussels sprouts10
113Nov/Dec 2011gingersnaps22
117July/Aug 2012rating American cheddars28
118Sept/Oct 201210 minute oatmeal23
118Sept/Oct 2012French apple cake21
119Nov/Dec 2012rating cocoa powders28
120Jan/Feb 2013butterscotch pudding18
120Jan/Feb 2013rating supermarket hummus28
121March/April 2013rating supermarket medium roast coffees29
122May/June 2013blueberry bundt cake21
122May/June 2013stir fried asparagus9
123July/Aug 2013guide to stir frying16see issues 64 and 89
123July/Aug 2013rating supermarket chicken broths25Swanson chicken stock (NOT organic free range); Better Than Bouillon chicken base
123July/Aug 2013rating high end BBQ sauce7Pork Barrel Original wins. Avoid Bone Suckin' and American Stockyard.
124Sept/Oct 2013peach pie21
124Sept/Oct 2013grilled cheese sandwiches24
124Sept/Oct 2013lemon ricotta pancakes23
125Nov/Dev 2013chicken stew11
125Nov/Dev 2013caldo verde (Portuguese sausage potato green soup)24
125Nov/Dev 2013rating dark chocolate28Ghirardelli 60%; Callebaut L-60-40NV; avoid Hershey and Nestley; but see issue 90
126Jan/Feb 2014sandwich bread23
126Jan/Feb 2014cooking oil guide16
127March/April 2014Thai chicken curry15
127March/April 2014currants scones21
128May/June 2014cannellini guide26Goya canned wins even over dried
129July/Aug 2014cream cheese brownies25
130Sept/Oct 2014Latin flan24
130Sept/Oct 2014baguettes (bread)19
130Sept/Oct 2014prosciutto guide28
131Nov/Dec 2014homemade hot chocolate mix23
131Nov/Dec 2014mushroom bisque10
131Nov/Dec 2014garlic parmesan mashed potatoes12
132Jan/Feb 2015corn muffins20
132Jan/Feb 2015NY cheesecake23
132Jan/Feb 2015vegetable broth19
134May/June 2015strawberry rhubarb pie19
134May/June 2015best roasted potatoes7
134May/June 2015rating supermarket brie26Fromager D'Affinois; Marin; Fromage de Meaux; Reny Picot
134May/June 2015sauteed Swiss chard12
135July/Aug 2015whole wheat pancakes6
135July/Aug 2015best burger16
135July/Aug 2015whipped cream31
136Sept/Oct 2015super flaky biscuits7
137Nov/Dec 2015ground beef chili9
137Nov/Dec 2015rating cheap EVOOs23Lucini; Colavita; Goya; Botticelli
137Nov/Dec 2015ultra nutty pecan bars15
137Nov/Dec 2015marshmallows29
138Jan/Feb 2016perfect baked potato15
138Jan/Feb 2016fluffy dinner rolls21
138Jan/Feb 2016red lentil soup22
139March/April 2016homemade chicken broth16
139March/April 2016roasted aparagus21
139March/April 2016rating whole milk Greek yogurt26
139March/April 2016beef stir fry with peppers6
139March/April 2016bone-in chicken breasts5
140May/June 2016lemon chicken5
141July/Aug 2016rating Parmesan26Boar's Head; Il Villaggio; Sarvecchio
142Sept/Oct 2016oatmeal cookies23big thumbs up; nutty butterscotchy taste; don't overbake
142Sept/Oct 2016rating soy sauce26Kikkoman and Lee Kum Kee win but see issue 84
143Nov/Dec 2016chocolate 10116
143Nov/Dec 2016rating cinnamon26Penzey's Vietnamese but most will be fine for baking; but see issue 101
143Nov/Dec 2016broccoli and feta frittata13
145March/April 2017salmon 10116
145March/April 2017rating premium EVOO24Frescobaldi Laudemio; McEvoy Ranch; Gianfranco Becchina
145March/April 2017rich chocolate sheet cake22
146May/June 2017guacamole5
147July/August 2017rating white wine vinegars26Napa Valley Naturals; Star; Colavita; Pompeian
148Sept/Oct 2017garlic bread22
148Sept/Oct 2017crispy fried chicken cutlets5
148Sept/Oct 2017cider glazed apple bundt cake21
148Sept/Oct 2017rating feta cheese27Real Greek; Dodoni; Boar's Head; Nikos; avoid Organic Valley
149Nov/Dec 2017gingerbread layer cake21thin batter; moist cake. Good spicy cake. Use cream cheese frosting.
149Nov/Dec 2017Tuscan bean and escarole soup22
149Nov/Dec 2017sugar cookies14
151March/April 2018moroccan lentil/chickpea soup (harira)14good and can be made vegan