James McNair's Soups

Book excerpt: Whether served piping hot to warm up a frosty midwinter day or chilled to offset the hot summer doldrums, soup is one of our most comforting and satisfying foods. In this delectable new McNair collection, the bestselling cookbook author presents his favorite recipes, ranging from hearty, chunky meals in a bowl to creamy smooth soups best savored in small starter portions. Special emphasis is placed on soups that are quick and easy to prepare, as well as those that can be made in quantity and frozen for later use. Since flavorful stocks are the basis for many soups, recipes for creating the perfect stock from a variety of poultry, meat, fish, shellfish, and vegetables are highlighted. A host of delicious and exotic recipes follow, including spicy New Orleans Green Gumbo, Minted Lettuce and Snow Pea Soup, Oyster and Artichoke Bisque, Four Onion Soup with Blue Cheese Croutons Caribbean Frozen Ginger Banana Soup, Crab Vichyssoise, Red and Gold Beet Soup, and Autumn Chestnut Porridge. For their fifteenth book together, eminent food photographer Patricia Brabant teams up with McNair's masterful presentations to display each dish in glorious color. Check out all of James McNair's Chronicle cookbooks!