Having followed the urban homesteading adventures of Aimee Wimbush-Bourque on her much admired blog, Simple Bites, for the past couple years, I was delighted to be asked to review and make a recipe from her new book, Brown Eggs and Jam Jars, for the Food Bloggers of Canada Brown Eggs and Jam Jars blog tour.
The book is every bit as heartwarming and down-to-earth as Aimee’s blog, and really deserves the time it takes to occupy the kids with some play-doh, brew yourself a cup of tea, and cuddle up by the fire for a leisurely peruse. Packed with irresistible seasonally-inspired recipes like sticky maple blueberry pudding, roasted peach barbecue sauce, and sour cream pear pie with cornmeal pecan streusel (!!), your copy of the book is bound to quickly look like mine – riddled with sticky tabs on the concoctions you can’t wait to try. Connecting the recipes is Aimee’s beautiful prose, telling the stories behind the food she presents the reader, and offering tips on urban homesteading and involving kids in the kitchen – two of my favourite culinary pursuits.
As you can imagine, choosing just one recipe to make as a contributor to the BEJJ blog tour was unspeakably challenging, but I thought it my obligation as the sole East Coaster from the group of bloggers participating on the tour to make Aimee’s Nova Scotia Seafood Chowder.
I was happy enough NOT to have my daughter participate in the making of this chowder, I have to admit – it ended up being a thoroughly meditative, contemplative process I embarked on, on just the type of blustery, damp day that seafood chowders are meant to brighten. Not an original East Coaster, I had always thought that my simple version of chowder – onions, garlic, wine, seafood and cream – was quite delicious. I have realized, after making Aimee’s version, accented with fennel, saffron and tomatoes, that my chowder is truly just adequate, and that this will be my go-to recipe from here on out. This recipe pulls together in time to decide, spontaneously, on a somewhat indulgent weekend lunch – complete with a glass of white wine – but is exquisite enough to save for when your prairie-dwelling relatives show up expecting fresh, locally-caught seafood.
There are two ways to get your hands on this recipe and the 99-or-so others that grace the pages of Brown Eggs and Jam Jars: you can enter my give-away, sponsored by Penguin Random House Canada Limited, who graciously provided me with an extra copy of the book to give to YOU, or you can grab it on Amazon or at your favourite bookstore.
To enter, simply comment below, and I will draw for the giveaway on Thursday, February 26th. Only Canadian residents will be considered for the give-away.
To increase your chances of winning a copy of Brown Eggs and Jam Jars, hop on over to the other blogs on the FBC Blog Tour, and enter their giveaways too! Here’s who they are:
- Anna, at Hidden Ponies, is making Whole Wheat Honey Pizza Dough
- Karlynn, at The Kitchen Magpie, is making Coconut Cream Baked Oatmeal
- Renee, at Sweet Sugarbean, is making Roasted Carrot, Parsnip and Thyme Soup
- Ashley, at The Recipe Rebel, is making Maple Walnut Granola
- Jenny, at the Brunette Baker, is making that to-die-for Sour Cream Pear Pie with Cornmeal Pecan Streusel
- Christina, at Strawberries for Supper, is making Everyday Sandwich Bread
- Janice, at Kitchen Heals Soul, is making Iced Cider Caramel Popcorn (whoa!)
- Bridget, at Bridget’s Green Kitchen, is making Chocolate Beet Sheet Cake
I love the idea of a nice hot seafood chowder right now with the weather we’ve been enduring. Haved loved Purple House Cafe for ages and only just discovered Aimee’s a couple of weeks ago and look forward to reading more from her too.
These revipes look delicious – I’d love to give them a try with a new cookbook !
This sounds like a recipe I could serve when people come to visit a displaced east coaster and expect fresh fish, even though I can’t try it while making it!!! Although the iced cider caramel corn sounds right up my alley!!! Miss you guys!!
i would love to win this cookbook – i have been eyeing it for months (i entered at every blog!!) Thanks for the chance!
Really excited for the release!
I think I need this book if only to up my chowder game!
And, I’m considering getting some chickens 🙂
Beth
Me me me …. i would love a copy of the book! Im going to try this with my toddler … right now he’s “super into souper’s for supper!” as we say at home … yum!
I would love a copy of this book! I started following Aimee on Instagram recently and her cookbook is on my must-buy list!
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That looks divine! Can’t wait to try out some of the recipes myself! 🙂
My husband would shudder to think that I want another cookbook to add to my collection but this one sounds wonderful.
As a native “Islander” the chowder looks delicious!
I would love a copy! Thx!
I’d love to win a copy of this – the recipes and photography are mouth-watering!
That chowder looks so good. I’ve been a fan of Aimee’s blog for awhile now. So happy for her!
This sou looks so hearty!
This looks really nice for a cold winter’s day! I’m glad you picked this recipe! 🙂
You’ve got my craving seafood chowder and it’s 10:30 in the morning. Must have the recipe! Thank you for the chance to win. 🙂
I’m like you — I have never wavered from the typical chowder recipe I was raised with, and I also think the chowder in my family is amazing. I would love to try this kind, one with tomatoes, which I think would be delicious! Great choice!
Thank you for the chance! I’m dying to get my hands on a copy of this book! Can’t wait to read about preserving!
Tomatoes and saffron? I admit, I’m like you Jesse– seafood, cream, go. Perhaps no longer?!? My eyes have been opened!
That chowder looks amazing! Thank you for the chance to win what looks to be an awesome cook book!
This looks delicious! The book looks lovely – thanks for the chance!
What a lovely blog post on what looks like a beautiful book. 🙂 Your description made my mouth water.
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This looks so marvelous; totally my aesthetic – brown eggs and Ball jars galore here!
The seafood chowder looks delish!
I wouldn’t mind a big bowl of that chowder! Guess I’m going to have to get a copy of Aimee’s cookbook.
Great post! I am now thinking my own version of chowder that we make in our pressure cooker while tasty may lack in the flavour palate compared to Aimee’s!
The roasted peach barbecue sauce sounds like a winner.
Those recipes sound delicious – please count me in, and thanks for the opportunity!
thank you or the opportunity to win the beautiful book!
Three cheers for chowder to keep us warm while we anxiously wait for spring!
The chowder looks great!
This chowder looks awesome – thanks for the chance
I love making soup…and this certainly looks like a great one.
Thank you for the chance to win. I love a new cookbook to experiment with! =D
That chowder looks amazing! Thanks for the chance 🙂
I’ve made the seafood chowder from Zwicker Inn, Mahone bay for years, but am always open to a new recipe!
I’ve followed Aimee on Simple Bites for some time so it would be great to have a copy of her new book.
Looks like an awesome book, can’t wait to try some recipes!
I love your blog! This looks like a yummy cookbook!
My normal chowder sounds like yours! I’ll have to give Aimee’s a try 🙂
Definately my kind of cook book. Throw my name in your hat! Thanks.
It looks like there are so many great things to try!
This looks like such a lovely book. There really is an art to simple cooking, isn’t there!! The stew sounds delicious!!
On a cold day like today, that seafood chowder would warm me u p from the inside-out!
I look forward to trying some of your recipes as well of some recipes from this besutiful book give away.
Such a beautiful book, would love to win it. Thanks for the chance!
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Would love to win the book. Been wanting to learn more about homesteading.
Thanks for the chance