The Big Book of Soups and Stews: 262 Recipes for Serious Comfort Food (Paperback)

by Maryana Vollstedt (Author) "Add variety to the menu..." (more)
Key Phrases: ounces medium mushrooms, stew until thickened, cup chopped yellow onion, Great Northern, Classic Garlic Bread, Basil Pesto (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
With its bold graphics, attractive cover and clear, concise recipes, Vollstedt's latest has all the signs of an interesting work. Unfortunately, unlike James Peterson's excellent primer Splendid Soups, this book gives only cursory treatment to the principals of soup- and stew-making. Moreover, the facile introductory notes rarely describe the finished dish, let alone mention technique. Vollstedt (The Big Book of Casseroles) tells readers that Bean and Beer Soup with Ham is perfect for "game watching on TV," and a broccoli, mushroom and peanut butter soup is just the thing for the "peanut butter fan." In another instance, Vollstedt assumes that her readers will not know how to pronounce "ratatouille" (the Union Street Ratatouille recipe offers a phonetic spelling), yet takes it for granted that they will know how her recipe, which calls for slow-roasting the vegetables to a gelatinous heap, differs from the classic version. Perhaps it sounds like a quibble, but the book contains many such omissions. Then there is the matter of the recipes themselves. While some of them will no doubt appeal to people with large families and their children what child wouldn't adore Spaghetti Soup? more sophisticated readers may long for, well, more sophisticated dishes.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
"Serious comfort food" is what a lot of people are craving right now, giving Vollstedt's (The Big Book of Casseroles) book an unforeseen timeliness. Home cooks, especially those with families, will find a wide range of easy, uncomplicated recipes here, from a hearty Beef and Chile Stew with Cornmeal Dumplings to a more sophisticated Shrimp and Scallop Chowder; there are many kid-friendly recipes as well, including several hamburger soups. Some of the recipes are staples (such as a classic Irish Stew), but many busy cooks will find it handy to have such favorites gathered in one place, along with more unusual "meals in a bowl." For most collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081183056X
• ISBN-13: 978-0811830560
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,354 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious, varied, easy-to-prepare soups and stews, March 7, 2004

By	E. Marin "voracious reader" (Palo Alto, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've made at least ten of the recipes so far, from lamb stew with spinach and orzo to spicy black bean to lentil with brown rice, and every one has been tasty and straightforward to make, including the vegetarian ones. I cook once or twice a week and eat each dish for several days, so this kind of consistency is important!

Note that these are generally not quick recipes in the sense of being able to whip them up on the spot - most I've tried involve throwing things in the pot to simmer at least an hour or two before I intend to eat, and many suggest soaking beans overnight, etc. But the time spent actively preparing the food is usually not that much, and the results have always been well worth it. Enjoy!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite cookbook for the past year!, January 26, 2005

By	S. J. Norred "a busy mom" (Redmond, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love soup, but I don't like to spend all day making it. Maryana has "boiled down" every recipe to the simplest yet tastiest way to make it. Try the Sunriver Soup for company...it is delicious. I have had this book for over a year, and have made over 20 of the recipes...they have all been fantastic. Both of the Gumbo recipes are super, the seafood one is divine. The Gazpacho is perfect, and I love the Mexican Chicken and Corn soup too. I like how she doesn't require a million and one ingredients but just selects the perfect combination of spices for each soup.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT MUCH BETTER THAN A GOOD BOWL OF SOUP, January 31, 2005

By	Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

I'll admit..I'm mainly a soup person only in the fall and winter months when it's cooler and you don't mind a nice pot of soup simmering on the stove for several hours. Soup and winter just goes together even though this book contains many lighter receipes that can be enjoyed all year round.

This is a follow-up to the Big Book of Casseroles and contains receipes for over 250 soups, stews, and chowders. Some very elegant soups perfect for a formal dinner party to go along with stick to your ribs soups for tailgating before a big game. There's old classic favorites such as Chicken Noodle, Motzah Ball and Clam Chowder to go along with more exotic soups such as the Thai Ginger Chicken Soup and Spicy Cuban Pork Stew. One of my favorites is the Chicken with Buttermilk Thyme dumplings which is just fantastic in the dead of winter like it is now. There are several potato soup recipes which I absolutely love including the baked potato soup.

The recipes are fairly simple to make and most of the ingredients are availabe from the grocery store but a few will require a visit to a gourmet food store if you really want to do it right. This book is a soup-eaters dream!