Soup Club by Caroline Wright
80 Cozy Recipes for Creative Plant-Based Soups and Stews to Share
 Soup has been said to heal and is thought to contain properties that strengthen the body. As I read about the author of this book and how soup became a big part of her life, I began to think about not only the ingredients that are prepared, measured perfectly, and cooked according to directions but also spent some time thinking about what else might go into the pot besides the ingredients. Perhaps it is possible to add not only spice that adds flavor but also a dollop or more of positive energy some might refer to as kitchen witchery or prayer thus imbuing the final product with even more healing potential.  If so, then it is my guess that the many soup gifts that arrived on this author’s doorstep were probably a great addition to the medical treatment she received as she dealt with her cancer diagnosis. Â
* The personal touch of Caroline’s story and why soup became important to her
* The watercolor illustrations
* The photos of the author and her family
* The reason that soup became important and continues to be important to the author
* That the recipes are all plant based
* The simple precise easy to follow recipe instructions
* That the ingredients are easy to find and common around the world
* That there were also some recipes for bread, salad and a sweet
* That instapot/pressure cooker variations to recipes were provided at the end of the book
* That there were recipes to make seasoning blends used in the recipes
* That though ingredients were sometimes similar the recipes were all different and sounded tasty
* That there was more than one recipe I would like to make
* Not having a hard copy to cook from immediately.
* That nutritional information was not provided…this is one thing that helps me decide whether or not to buy a cookbook.
 Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I like to own this book? Yes
Would I consider buying it to give someone else? Yes
 Thank you to NetGalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for the ARC- This is my honest review.
 The origin story along with creative vegan soup and stew recipes from the Seattle-based community soup club run by cookbook author Caroline Wright.
After a devastating brain cancer diagnosis, Caroline Wright told some new friends she was craving homemade soup, then found soup on her doorstep every day for months. She survived with a deep gratitude for soup and her community. In thanks and in their honor, she decided to start a weekly soup club delivering her own original healthful soup recipes to her friend’s porches. Caroline’s creative spirit and enthusiasm spread, along with the word of her club, and she soon was building a large community of soup enthusiasts inspired by her story.
Soup Club is unlike any other soup book. Caroline’s collection of recipes along with artwork, photography, and haiku from her members, tell a moving story of community, love, and health at its center. This unique cookbook proves that soup can be more than a filling meal, but also a mood and a feeling. Every soup can be made on the stove top and Instant Pot. The recipes are all vegan and gluten-free and include:
Catalan Chickpea Stew with Spinach
Jamaican Pumpkin and Red Pea Soup
Split Pea Soup with Roasted Kale
West African Vegetable Stew
Caroline Wright is a cookbook author, former food television producer and veteran of Martha Stewart Omnimedia. Her recipes and articles appear regularly online and in national lifestyle publications, including Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, Food Network, Every Day with Rachael Ray, The Kitchn, and Food52. Wright is the author of four cookbooks that range from cakes to Catalan cuisine, though her passion for community and storytelling is woven throughout each book. Her terminal brain cancer diagnosis in 2017 shifted her career to focus on her health and young sons, for whom she also authored the noteworthy children’s book, Lasting Love, about her enduring love after death. She lives in Seattle, Washington with her family.
Willow Heath is a second-generation artist and first-time cookbook illustrator. She teaches illustration, watercolor, and portrait art at numerous Seattle schools, including Gage Academy of Art and Pratt Fine Arts Center. She and Caroline worked together on Caroline’s picture book, Lasting Love. Instagram @willowheath willowheath.com
