Hi Reader,

You woke up this morning, and something was different.
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The bedroom felt cooler than yesterday. The window was open the same amount, but the air coming through it had changed.
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Not cold. Not even cool, really.
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Just quieter. As if summer had loosened its grip a little overnight.
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That's the morning soup comes back.
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Not because you need warming up, but because a pot on the stove is what a change of season sounds like. A slow burble, a stir every few minutes, and good bread on the counter for dipping. Dinner arrived without an argument.
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Summer isn't gone. Tomatoes are still on the counter, and there's still corn to char. But the door has opened a crack.
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Which means it's time to start walking through it.

My First-Soup Principles

• Start light. Early in the season, reach for brothy soups before the heavy cream-and-cheese affairs of late fall start.
• Build flavor patiently. Whether it's onions slowly caramelizing or sausage taking on a deep brown crust, the first twenty minutes often determine the last twenty bites.
• Always have good stock. Homemade is wonderful, but a high-quality store-bought stock is one of the smartest shortcuts in any kitchen.
• Don't forget the finish. Fresh herbs, grated Parmesan, a squeeze of lemon, or a drizzle of olive oil can lift even the heartiest bowl.
• Which bowl calls to you first? French onion, a rustic lentil, or a gnocchi soup thick enough to hold a spoon upright. The early-turn soups are below.

WHAT'S INSIDE...

• ​French Onion Soup​
• ​Italian Sausage Soup (With Gnocchi & Spinach)​
• ​Gnocchi Soup With Bacon & Cheese​
• ​Old-Fashioned Minestrone Soup​
• ​Rustic Lentil Soup​
• ​Authentic Vietnamese Pho​
• ​Brodo Di Pollo ~ Italian Chicken Soup​

​French Onion Soup​

This French onion soup tastes just like the classic, with plenty of onions and leeks in a rich homemade broth. Here's how to make it.

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​Italian Sausage Soup (With Gnocchi & Spinach)​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.82 from 16 votes

This Italian sausage soup is a cozy one-pot meal that's laden with sweet sausage, tender gnocchi, spinach, and topped with crispy pancetta. It's perfect winter comfort food.

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​Gnocchi Soup With Bacon & Cheese​

This creamy potato gnocchi soup is laden with vegetables, cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon. It's a comforting and satisfying one bowl meal.

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​Old-Fashioned Minestrone Soup​

This old-fashioned minestrone soup is chock-full of carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, kale, zucchini, beans, and pasta...but gets an unexpected drizzle of pesto that transforms a frugal veggie-bin soup into something special.

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​Rustic Lentil Soup​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.93 from 14 votes

Rustic lentil soup is full of nourishment, comfort, and flavor. A simmering pot of green lentils, tomatoes, carrots, celery, potatoes, and spices. Add sausage, bacon, and pancetta, if you're so inclined.

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​Authentic Vietnamese Pho​

Vietnamese pho is a soup made with a beef broth rich with ginger, onions, star anise, fish sauce, and onions. Into that go rice noodles, beef, scallions, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs.

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​Brodo Di Pollo ~ Italian Chicken Soup​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.73 from 11 votes

Brodo di pollo. That's Italian for "the most gosh darn comforting and restorative chicken soup ever to cross the lips of someone who's under the weather or just needs some soothing sustenance."

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