'Tis the season...

...for soups, that is! It has JUST started to get chilly around here, and I have immediately found myself craving a big pot of a hearty soup. I love to make a pot of something on Sunday and then eat it for lunch the rest of the week - it's so easy to just divide it up right away, then grab a container from the fridge and go.

I thought I'd share a couple of my tried-and-true soup recipes with you, in case you are looking for a little inspiration. Here are three that I've made and loved (and the husband did, too!).

Roasted Tomato Soup with Broiled Cheddar

from Smitten Kitchen

This is a recipe I go back to time and time again - the freshly roasted tomatoes give it amazing flavor (read: it doesn't taste like watery ketchup) and the broiled cheddar toast on top pushes it over the edge. I could eat this all winter!

Paula Deen's Black Bean Soup

from Something New is Cooking blog; 

originally from Cooking with Paula Deen Magazine

I can no longer find the original source that I got this recipe from, but a quick Google search led me to several bloggers who had the same recipe I did. This is definitely a good weeknight recipe - the soup comes together in about a half-hour, and it's got great flavor from the mix of spices (and bacon!). We love to pair this with simple grilled cheese. The black beans provide all the protein you need in one meal, but a good dipper is a delicious accompaniment.

Cheesy Chicken and Potato Chowder

from The Comfort of Cooking

This was a new recipe that I tried last year, and it was a home run. It's luscious and rich, without being totally over the top. The creaminess comes from using freshly-grated sharp cheddar and a roux, along with skim milk - no heavy cream to be found. It's another one that is pretty quick to prepare, especially if you use leftover chicken or a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Shortcuts are the way to go!

What are some of your favorite soup recipes? If all else fails, chili is a standard back-up recipe in our house. We almost always have all the ingredients with need to pull a pot together - no two batches are the same, for sure, but it always turns out to be delicious.