The Soup Club Cookbook

I asked to review The Soup Club Cookbook through Blogging for Books, I was given a complimentary copy for my review.  But as always all thoughts and opinions below are my own.

The reason I wanted to review this cookbook is because I love soup!  Usually they are easy to make, and at the right time they can just totally hit the spot!
The great thing about soup's is you can eat really healthy and not necessarily sacrifice on taste as you occasionally have to do on other things.

While it's true this book gives you idea's on how you can create your own Soup Club locally and take turns making soups for each other once a week.  For myself, this wasn't the reason I wanted the book.  I wanted to see the recipe's!  But if you have a family, and local friends who also have families.  This soup club idea is seriously something to consider!

So many different soup ideas, and so many ways to use fresh produce or items from your garden in these soups.  Not to mention, making large batches in advance to store and eat later on.  Some of my favorites were Chestnut Soup, Winter Minestrone.

Additionally there are chilled soups, like Cucumber-Yogurt Soup YUM!  Or Avocado-Arugula Soup and Watermelon Gazpacho:)

Plus, what better things to go with soup but salad.  They give you several recipe's to make your own Vinaigrette's and Dressings!  I actually haven't tried any of these yet, but I am looking forward to making up some of my own salad dressings this summer and bottle them!

For those who know me, you know I love to garden and I always can pickles.  This book even had a new canning recipe that I can't wait to try as soon as I plant and grow my cucumbers this year!

You know how you go to a restaurant and order soup.  With it usually comes some yummy breads.  This book also has some great breads, corn breads and shortbread recipe's that are sure to add

to the soup for a side or even for dipping!

There is actually so much more to this book, I literally only have scratched the surface.  I haven't even had time to make a dent in them when making them on my own.

The great things about this book are the beautiful pictures, I love knowing what things are going to look like before I set out to make them.
The instructions are detailed and really easy to follow.  Additionally, you will find explanation for a few of the things that may pose questions in your mind.
Overall, I really like this book and I am thrilled to have it added to my cookbook collection!

These are the lovely ladies behind this great book.
Courtney Allison - Tina Carr - Caroline Laskow - Julie Peacock

You can learn more about the authors HERE. As well as PURCHASE information.

So tell me, do you search for great cookbooks?  Do you love soups?

The Pizza Bible

If you are like me and you love a great Pizza, this is one cookbook you may want to consider adding to your collection!  The Pizza Bible by Tony Gemignani.

Let me tell you a few reason's I loved this cookbook.  I love pictures, especially good ones that show detail, and even how to do something.  This book has it.
The pictures are actually pretty mouth watering, clearly he knows how to make pizza look good!

I'm not a professional cook, in fact not even close.  But I do enjoy trying it from time to time.  But when your dealing with dough, it can be tricky.  What is sticky, what isn't sticky enough, how many times do you roll it, what happens if you over roll it.  Sounds crazy, but a lot can go into it and make the difference between a slice that is heaven, or a slice that is just pizza.

This book breaks the entire process down, so you can not only create some of the best pizza's, but they will taste better than ones you can get from some of the best restaurants.
From how to make the dough, how to store it, how long you can freeze it. Prep times.  I knew their were different kinds of flours, but I had no idea what a difference some of them can make with dough.
Not to mention all the different sauces, which are the best for which kinds of pizza and dough etc..

I used to think making pizza seemed pretty simple, and it is.  But just a few minor changes in the way you make it, and using the correct ingredients can make a world of difference, this I learned well!

I'm going to be honest, when I cook and particularly when I bake.  I bake on stones.  My stoneware is years old, and seasoned fabulously.  I learned how to clean them years ago without having to ruin the seasoning and all the work put into getting them to that point.  But even I picked up a new trick from this book.
Possibly the reason I found lots of success with the recipes in this book was because I cooked them on stoneware instead of steels.  I just thought I should mention that!

This is a Pizza Bible, not only does it tell you all the "Though Shall Not..."  But it even gives you his Ten Commandments of Pizza.  Sounds funny, and even I think it is.  But I learned a lot from it, enough to now be able to make the perfect pizza anytime!

Not only do you get the best tips tricks and recipe's for dozens of different kinds of pizzas.  But he's also got sections for Calzone's (which I love, and who doesn't!) Bread sticks, Pepperoli and sausage rolls.  As well as several things to do with leftover pizza dough, YUM!

Have I tried all of them?  Nope, I've really only scratched the surface, and their are a few that really I have no desire to try.
However, being a runner I love to eat pizza, I can't help it.  Being able to make it on my own, for a yummy meal after a long run, or even as part of a carbo-load before a big race is just a plus.  Being able to make it GREAT is even a bigger plus.

Their are lots of cookbooks out there on the market.  All cookbooks aren't for every cook, this one may or may not be right for you.
This one in my opinion is for someone who wants to take a little extra care to make something that will taste the best it possibly can.  This is also a good book for anyone who enjoys a California Style, Italian, Sicilian, Traditional or Chicago style and even grilled.  This is for the cook who loves pizza, and wants to learn new skills to make great pizza anytime!   For the cook that wants to take their time, and do something right, rather than just quick.



Disclaimer: I was provided a complimentary copy of this cookbook by Blogging For Books for my review.  I was not required to write anything positive, all thoughts and opinions are my own.