Earlier this summer we got an email from a reader, Melody, who wanted to get a jump on fall cooking, especially soups. "I would like to know if you have a book to recommend just on soups," she said. "Not fancy soups but easy, simple ones." Do you have any good books (or other resources) to recommend to Melody? Here are two that I like... More

We've shown you how to quickly cool your soup to make it mouth-ready in an instant. Here is another way, one that actually adds an extra bit of nutrition to your meal! More

What's the perfect accompaniment to a hot bowl of nourishing homemade soup? Crackers or crusty bread for dunking, of course! Whatever your companion of choice, now you can serve them together in one of these charming soup and cracker bowl combos. It's an all-in-one piece, with either a grooved moat around the edge, a square container attached to the side, or a clever divider. Besides being convenient, it makes for a pretty presentation on the table, too! More

When I was a kid, we lived in Miami, and we had a Cuban neighbor whom I now only remember as "Mrs. Garcia." She had arrived in Miami via boat from Cuba, and I don't know where she is now, but she gave my mother her recipe for black bean soup, which I still use to this day. So wherever you are, Mrs. Garcia, thank you for this recipe. It has ruined me for all other black bean soups; nothing I've had in Cuban restaurants matches up to this. More

The dish I'm about to share is really two recipes in one – heavenly together but also good building blocks for many other meals this fall and winter. First up is a creamy, yet dairy-free, soup with roasted fall vegetables like butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, and parsnips. Then come the dumplings. More

We've all been there: You want to throw together a quick soup but you don't have any stock on hand. The first question that pops up is whether stock is necessary. The answer depends on what kind of soup you are making. A stock is more important with a simple broth-based soup, whereas a more complex pureed or cream-based soup might be OK with just water. Ideally, though, you will always use stock, as it is the foundation of your soup and really adds flavor. Read on for a method of creating a quick, vegetable stock that will enhance any soup and can be made at the last minute. More

Where would we be without hearty, healthy beans and legumes? They're an essential part of the following 10 soups, offering flavor, texture, and a good dose of fiber. We've got chicken stew with kale and cannellini beans, black-eyed pea soup with collards, lentil soup with lemon yogurt, and more! More

A finishing swirl of oil not only makes a humble bowl of soup look restaurant-worthy, it can also add a whole new dimension of flavor, taking a soup from so-so to spectacular. And while you can get creative, infusing oils with fresh herbs, toasted spices and even dried mushrooms, there are plenty of oils that taste special straight out of the bottle. More

My favorite soups are all, without question, the ones that came out of impromptu improvisation. I think soup, as a dish, is better suited to experimentation and discovery than any other, perhaps because the basic technique of making a soup is so simple and intuitive. It lets the improvisational cook follow her whim (I've a craving for sausage...), building flavor in seemingly strange ways (let's have some lemon here!), using up pantry leftovers (hi there, half-empty can of beans...) and bringing it all together in one wholly satisfying yet personal dish. That's how this soup happened. And even though it was built from my own idiosyncrasies, it turned out too good not to share (if I do say so myself!). More

Creamy tomato soup, crisp grilled cheese. Is that the quintessential winter lunch or what? Do like to dip your grilled cheese sandwich right into the soup? I do. It takes me right back to childhood. Are there other soup and sandwich combos that you love to eat? Maybe you have a soup and sandwich pair you love, even if it can't beat tomato soup and grilled cheese for sheer nostalgic value. What is it? What soups and sandwiches just belong together? More