Review: Chowderland by Brooke Dojny!

Title: Chowderland: Hearty Soups & Stews with Sides & Salads to Match
Author: Brooke Dojny
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: May 5th 2015
Source: Storey Publishing, LLC

Description:

Creamy Clam Chowder. Portuguese Caldo Verde Chowder. Northwest Salmon Chowder with Leeks and Peas. Double Corn Summer Chowder. Brooke Dojny offers 57 recipes for chowders of all kinds -- some made with seafood, some with meat, and some with just veggies -- plus side dishes, salads, and desserts to round out the menu. Whether you’re looking for a hearty meal on a cozy winter evening or a fresh gumbo perfect for a summer lunch, you’ll turn to this delicious collection again and again!

★★★★★

I was born and raised in the Midwest. Illinois, specifically, where even now in my adulthood is where I go to college and where I live. However, for a very brief time, I lived and vacationed in Massachusetts. This book made me homesick for the coast, even though I'm from the heartland. Each of the 57 recipes included in this book sounded absolutely fantastic, and had me wanting to book the next flight to Marblehead.

At the front of the book, there's a nice guide on how to best use and handle the ingredients listed throughout this cookbook. This is an especially nifty little note, considering there are a lot of seafood chowders with ingredients that the average home cook probably isn't using each and every night (at least in Illinois).

The recipes are very clear and concise, each one having numbered, step-by-step instructions. That makes this a really good book for beginners in the kitchen, because everything is laid out in a really helpful manner. There's also a lot of handy tips throughout this book, such as the 411 on mussels, and how to buy and clean clams. This is information that I wouldn't necessarily know off the bat, so I'm glad it was included. There's also lots of nice anecdotes and memories in this book, making it clear that the author is passionate about what she does. I also rather liked the "chowder wars" in this book, where different places claiming a better chowder were discussed.

Each recipe also offers salad, side, or dessert pairings that are also found in this book, so the book is kind of a one-stop-shop for all your soup eating needs. There is a surprising amount of variety found in this cookbook, from fish to chicken, from shellfish to beef. There's something in here for everyone, whichever ingredient you may happen to favor. The book is divided by type of meal, so it's fairly easy to navigate to find what you're looking for. There's a lot of yummy looking pictures too, which definitely helps.

As I mentioned before, everything in this book sounds awesome. That said, the dishes that I'm most excited to try include Dark and Sticky Candied Gingerbread, Day After Thanksgiving Chowder, and Northwest Salmon Chowder with Leeks and Peas.

This book is a great burst of Americana, and I recommend it to any one who loves to eat soups and chowders as much as I do. Because of the detailed steps, I think this book is suitable to both experienced and beginner cooks.

I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.