Book - Andrew's Favorite Soups Cookbook by Muriel Angot with Andrew Lessman

When it comes to our health, even the best vitamins must take a backseat to the food we eat, but how does a guy who can't cook very well qualify to have his name on a cookbook? Well, I suppose that loving to eat is a good start and the fact that I know what constitutes a healthy diet is important as well, but my limited skills in the kitchen would prevent me from creating recipes you would enjoy. As a result, I have never felt qualified to write a cookbook; however, this is not really a cookbook, but my "Eating Book," since I was able to rely on a professional chef to turn my favorite foods into great recipes. In short, the only reason this book exists is because my best friend, with whom I live, happens to be a trained professional chef. Her name is Muriel Angot and she was born and raised in Paris - the world's capital of fine cuisine and the same city where she attended the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu cooking school made famous by Julia Child. Muriel has improved on all my favorite soups that I have enjoyed for many years and in some cases, for my entire life. It is only Muriel's exceptional talent in the kitchen that has brought all my favorite soup recipes to life and now, to you. But why soups? Well, ever since childhood, soups have been my favorite food. They are delicious, low in calories, easy to prepare, simple to eat, easy to control portions and they enable me to enjoy many healthy foods I do not normally eat throughout the day. Soups have made it easy for me to maintain a healthy weight throughout my life, since weight control is all about portion control and since soups are liquid, there is no fooling oneself or weighing or guessing about portion size. In fact, whenever we make soups at home, we only use an 8-ounce portion and store them in the refrigerator in 8-ounce glass storage bowls. We can then simply eat them cold or reheat them in the microwave. In this way, we ensure that we never consume more than an 8-ounce cup of soup. Sadly, typical soup bowls are enormous and caloric levels skyrocket, but with an 8-ounce cup of soup your portions are always low calorie. When you look at the recipes, you will notice that many of these soups contain beans and legumes, since they are so remarkably rich in protein and fiber, which also makes these soups healthy, hearty and filling. You will also find soups containing a wide range of healthy fruits and vegetables including of course cruciferous vegetables, along with a myriad of herbs and spices that are so rich in healthy phytonutrients. I have always included these healthy ingredients in my soups, since I have found that I often do not eat them sufficiently and soups make it so much easier for me to eat better. As a child I simply enjoyed soup, but as a busy adult, I have found that as far back as college, soups have been an easy, affordable and delicious way to eat better. I hope you feel the same way after reading our book. Best of Health, Andrew Lessman