Enlightened Soups: More Than 150 Light, Healthy, Delicious and Beautiful Soups in 60 Minutes or Less

Camilla V. Saulsbury
Cumberland House (2008)
ISBN 9781581826647
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (11/08)


Soups are my favorite comfort foods!  Needless to say I was thrilled to review and test the recipes in “Enlightened Soups” by Camilla V. Saulsbury.  The types of soup I normally make are from leftovers in the fridge so it was a delight to actually use a recipe and create another “favorite” soup.

“Enlightened Soups” is a compilation of over 135 soups that can be made in less than an hour.  In our busy schedules this is very appealing. The beginning of the book is an array of photos of the various soups in the book as well as an introduction with tips such as:  steer clear of high heat; don’t go stir crazy; and, head to the deli counter for cooked meat and poultry.  Saulsbury also gives suggested ingredients to have in the pantry.  This is certainly a boon to someone that is just starting out in creating a home.

The first soup I tried was “Butternut Squash Soup.”  This was ideal for the fall and the combination of sage and thyme gave it a flavor I hadn’t tasted in a squash soup before.  The consistency was good but I found it a little too sweet with the added brown sugar.  Personally, I would eliminate it the next time.

The second soup I tried was the “Spanish Seafood Soup.”  It was delicious! Thick with fish and clams, it certainly was a dish that was a meal in itself.  I really liked the hint of orange zest.  The best part was it took less than 30 minutes from the time I started to the time we started eating it.  And, according to Saulsbury, one serving is only 221 calories. 

There are many other soups I want to try and will as the cooler days come upon us.  I highly recommend this cookbook, “Enlightened Soups” by Camilla V. Saulsbury, to those that want to try out new recipes for that special comfort food.  I know you won’t be disappointed.

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