“Soup Nights” Published Today!

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October 11 is the official launch date for my new book!

Soup Nights
Satisfying Soups and Sides for Delicious Meals All Year

In the pages of my new book, Soup Nights, you’ll find all sorts of soup adventures! Some soups are perfect for vegetarians, others focus on fish (think bouillabaisse and gumbo), and many highlight those nutrient-rich beans and grains (barley, quinoa, lentils to name a few) so popular today. You’ll also discover hearty, richly flavored dishes, such as classic onion soup gratiné to counter winter’s chill, as well as cooler choices, like an icy cucumber Vichyssoise, for sweltering days.

But, though we might wish to, one cannot live by soup alone. So, I’ve included recipes for fresh seasonal salads and inventive sandwiches—natural partners for soups—as well as for never-to-be-forgotten desserts. Alll were created to pair with the soups in this collection. These side dishes will help round out your meal’s soup star. You’ll find suggestions for delicious “soup night” menus after each soup recipe in this book.

I’ve spent the last year and a half working on this collection, and have been blessed each step of the way by help from many talented individuals. Rizzoli editor, Caitlin Leffel, gave me free rein to create recipes with extra tips and details so that home cooks everywhere will be able to make them successfully. Photographer Harry Zernike is responsible for the gorgeous photos, and food stylist, Joy Howard, for the creative food styling. And, Peter Alberg designed the book of my dreams. My tireless assistants spent hours in my kitchen helping to make the recipes fool-proof; a group of volunteer testers cooked, critiqued, and helped fine-tune them. There are never too many cooks in the kitchen!

In honor of its launch I’d like to share some recipes from Soup Nights with my readers!

Soup Cooking in Paris

Broccoli Soup with Curried Creme Fraiche 2As 2016 arrived, my husband and I rang in the new year with good friends here in Pairs where I cooked a meal in the tiny but efficient kitchen of our apartment rental. Of course, since I’ve spent the entire last year working on Soup Nights (to be published this fall) I included a soup in the menu, and chose a long time favorite.

Broccoli soup with Curried Crème Fraiche is so versatile that you can serve it any season of the year. It’s a snap to assemble, takes only 15 minutes to simmer atop the stove, and is light yet totally satisfying.  I buy packaged broccoli florets (a big time saver), sauté them with chopped leeks, and then simmer them in chicken broth until tender. The vegetables are then pureed and seasoned with a hint of cayenne pepper. However, it’s the crème fraîche scented with curry powder that is the secret to this dish’s vibrant flavor. The cream is swirled into the puréed mixture and also used as a garnish. Continue reading