If you're looking for something hearty to prepare for a winter meal and want to get a little exotic, your geographical reach does not need to go beyond North America.
There's plenty of interesting stuff to put on the table from the Southern U.S., including Southern Soups and Stews.
Nancie McDermott, long a preparer and writer of Southern cuisine, packs some mouth-watering recipes into her book. And she does NOT skip Louisiana, so jambalaya and gumbo are among the many attractions.