The latest cookbook by the "Culinary Ambassador of the Chesapeake"
encourages us to cook in a way that is not only healthy for us but also
for the Bay.
Captain John Smith, upon entering the Chesapeake, wrote in his diaries
that the fish were so plentiful "we attempted to catch them with a
frying pan." That method sums up classic Chesapeake cooking--fresh and
simple. In The New Chesapeake Kitchen, celebrated Maryland chef John
Shields takes the best of what grows, swims, or grazes in the Bay's
watershed and prepares it simply, letting the pure flavors shine
through. Honoring the farmers, watermen, butchers, cheese makers, and
foragers who make the food movement around the Chesapeake Bay watershed
possible, along with the environmental and food organizations working to
restore the Bay, the land, and food security, Shields promotes a healthy
locavore diet and a holistic view of community foodways.
In this scrumptious book, enhanced with beautiful full-color images by
former Baltimore Sun Magazine photographer David W. Harp, Shields
urges readers to choose local, seasonal ingredients. Presenting what he
dubs "Bay- and body-friendly food," he advocates for a plant-forward and
sustainable diet, one that considers how food consumption affects both
your health and the environment. Shields presents creative and healthy
options that nourish us while protecting the Bay, including one-pot
recipes for meals like Fishing Creek Seafood Chili, Old Line Veggie
Creole Oyster Stew, and Spring Pea Soup with Tarragon-Truffle Oil. To
round it out, this holistic cookbook includes directions for canning,
preserving, and fermenting.
Shields offers many vegan- and vegetarian-friendly options, as well as
innovative new takes on Chesapeake classics. You'll find recipes for
dozens of delicious dishes, from Aunt Bessie's Crab Pudding and
Hutzler's Cheese Bread to "I Can't Believe It's Not Crab" Cakes, Blue
Cat Seafood Hash, and an array of savory soups, braised meats, luscious
desserts, and green breakfast smoothies--even recipes for a locavore
cocktail party!
