Growing up, our Saturday tradition was to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house for hand-rolled gnocchi and red sauce from scratch. "This is delicious!" we would exclaim, going back for our third helping of pasta. "This is the best meal I've ever had."

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"Oh shush," snapped Grandma from across the table. "It's...it's not my best." If that weren't her best work, I would sell my soul for what she considered actually to be her best. But for now, I'll settle for half my body weight in pasta.

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To honor my grandmother's insistence that there is always improvement to be had, It's Not My Best is a resource for cooks who finish a meal and say, "Next time, I should do this instead."