End of Soup Season

So, I'm totally bummed that soup season is almost over. Oh, we have light soups occasionally in the warmer months, but I love making a big pot of hearty soup when it's cold and blustery outside. It makes me feel all cozy-like.

Here are a few of my favorite soups. I hope you find one you like! (Just click on the names of the soup to view the recipe post. I know, I'm getting lazy in my old age.)

Zuppa Toscana: Though a popular soup at Olive Garden, this isn't meant to be a "copycat" recipe. It might taste pretty close, but I can't even remember the last time I had this soup, let alone ate at OG. This soup is rich, creamy and the flavors totally pop.

Apple-Cheddar Squash Soup: When you see this soup in pre-pureed form you might run for cover. Chunks of onions, potatoes, apples and squash simmering away looks more like a dare than your dinner. Once you get to the end and taste the final result -- you'll think you're eating cheese fondue. That's exactly what this soup tastes like. Cheese fondue.

Southwestern Chicken and Barley Soup: This is one of our favorites and has never found a hater, yet. It's delicious, but it's healthy, too -- filled with veggies, beans, and shredded chicken. And hello, it's got BARLEY.

Red Potato Soup: I've tried lots of different versions of it, but up until now, no potato soup has come close to being as good as what my mom used to make. This soup has a lot of flavor and, believe it or not, I lightened it up with a few lower fat substitutions. I left the butter, though. Some things just fall apart when you remove the butter.

Hearty Cheeseburger Soup: This one's pretty straightforward. -- soup that tastes like a cheeseburger with fries in it. For reals.