Instructions: When evening temperatures start to drop, its time to put on the soup. On crisp fall evenings, theres nothing like a steaming bowlful.

Whether your favorite is brimming with vegetables, beef, beans, sausage, tomatoes, pasta or chicken, suddenly, life is full of comfort.

If youre looking for a stress-reliever, soup is it. Soup forces you to slow down. Just throw it in a pot and relax while it simmers.

Soup also is perfect for experimentation. Part of the fun of making a pot is throwing in a little of whatever you have on hand. If you dont like cumin, dont use cumin. If you like ginger, put in ginger.

If you want curry, add curry.

When accompanied by a warm wheat roll or a slice of fresh-baked bread, soup becomes a well-balanced and substantial meal. Add a small green salad to round out the repast.

To get started, think beyond chicken noodle and split pea. Combine different tastes and textures, and contrast flavors such as sweet and sour or salty and sweet.

Preparing soup can be fast and easy, and the finished product still will have a from-scratch taste with time-saving techniques.

Check out the produce and freezer section of the grocery store, and pick up ready-cut vegetables. Convenience products such as canned chicken broth, tomatoes and evaporated milk can save time as well.

So get out a pot, start throwing in your favorite ingredients and get ready for the aroma to draw hungry appetites to the kitchen.

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