Creamy Potato-Leek Soup

Bacon, red potatoes, and leeks add a delicious dynamic to this classic.

Sweet potatoes are absolutely marvelous—they’re incredibly versatile, naturally sweet, loaded with nutrients and fiber, and low in calories. Really, what’s not to love? Here, they're simply sliced and cooked to make the perfect crust for a quiche.

This easy lentil soup is healthy, filling, and delicious. It happens to be vegetarian, too, and is packed not only with tender yet toothsome lentils, but carrot, celery, onion, spinach, and tomato. A little bay leaf, fresh thyme, and a splash of red wine or sherry vinegar perks everything up. Perfect with a loaf of good, crusty bread!

Loaded potato skins are a perfect package: crunchy scooped-out spud shells filled with gooey, melted sharp cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and tangy sour cream. A classic bar snack or game day food, these are great any other time too, including for an easy dinner (just add a salad if you feel the need for a little more green than what the chives bring to the table).

Softened vegetables, including onions and bell peppers, amped up with spices like chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne, form the base of this tortilla soup. Chicken broth and tomatoes are added, along with soft corn tortillas that meld into the liquid to make a hearty, thick meal. Finally, shredded chicken is stirred in, and everything is garnished with crunchy tortilla strips, sour cream, shredded cheese, and scallions (avocados, pickled jalapeños, and cilantro would all work too).

This soup is an equally wonderful way to use up all the leftover veggie odds and ends in your fridge, or to celebrate the freshest produce in season by buying it specifically for the dish (and if you get a CSA box, it can serve both purposes). Whatever vegetables you use, this is an easy, nutritious, and delicious meal, and endlessly customizable. Fresh pesto makes a great, vibrant garnish, but you could also simply sprinkle on a bit of grated Parmesan and cracked black pepper.