Soup [Practical Cookery Series]

I have often been heard to say, "I could live on soup," and with this cookbook in hand, that might actually be achievable -- without soup eventually wearing out its welcome at my table, that is. There are a lot of soup cookbooks out there (some better than others - The Cook's Encyclopedia soup cookbook by Debra Mayhew is certainly the best), but not all of them are easy to cook from, try as one might. This is a large, oversized cookbook with paperback 'flaps' (like a dustcover has) which I use to mark my place (handy), and the book is made in such a way that the book will lie open on my kitchen counter, so the 'step-by-step' method of soup-making offered here really works for me practically. Somehow this method increases my confidence to try recipes that otherwise would tempt me to try them, but might have to wait while I threw together a simple stew or a green pea or homemade tomato-based soup. Some of the soups I've tried that we've enjoyed the most are: Minestrone with Pesto, Cioppino, Watercress Vichyssoise (really good!), Italian Fish Stew, Spicy Shrimp Soup (this one uses lime leaves), Cream Cheese and Herb Soup (terrific on the day you come home with herbs from the Farmer's Market), Pumpkin Soup (I use pumpkin out of a can for this one), and our all-time favorite, Avocado and Mint Soup. If you enjoy soup, you'll find all your favorites here plus some great new ideas. Recipes are divided into sections on Lo-Fat, International, Spicy, Vegetable, European, British, Oriental, and Special Occasion. There are loads of photos, including small photos of preparation steps. Easy to recommend -- and take note of the terrific price on this really nice cookbook series from Barnes & Noble.