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    5 Great Fall Soups

    By | Shine Food – Fri, Sep 23, 2011 5:36 PM EDT

    French onion soup. Photo by Romulo YanesFrench onion soup. Photo by Romulo Yanes



    By Joanne Camas, Epicurious.com

    There's a chill in the air, and that means it's time to reach up and grab the stockpot from the top shelf, ready for soup action.

    Here, five delicious recipes to set simmering soon. Each has great reviews from Epicurious members and features the best the season has to offer.

    See also: 5 Mistakes Parents Make When Feeding their Kids

    French Onion Soup (pictured)

    Caramelized onions and a splash of brandy add rich flavor.

    Yield: Makes 4 servings
    Active time: 40 minutes
    Total time: 40 minutes

    To speed up this classic soup without sacrificing its soulful flavor, simply caramelize the onions in a dry nonstick skillet (be sure to use one with a silicone surface designed for use over high heat, not Teflon), and use good-quality beef stock, preferably one that is low in salt.

    Ingredients
    • 2 medium onions, finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 tablespoon Calvados, Applejack, or other brandy
    • 4 cups low-salt beef stock
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • 4-8 1/2"-thick slices baguette, cut to fit ramekins
    • 1 cup grated Gruyère or raclette cheese

    • Special equipment: Four 10-ounces ramekins

    Preparation
    Preheat oven to 450°F. Cook onions in a 12" nonstick skillet over high heat, stirring constantly, until soft and caramelized, about 15 minutes. Add butter and toss onions to coat. Remove pan from heat and stir in Calvados. Return pan to heat and continue cooking until Calvados is absorbed, about 30 seconds. Add stock and bring to a simmer. Simmer until soup is reduced to 4 cups, about 5 minutes. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper.

    Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Divide soup among ramekins. Top each ramekin with 1-2 slices of bread. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over each. Transfer baking sheet with ramekins to oven and bake until cheese is bubbly and browned in spots, about 4 minutes.

    See also: The 10 Best Bagel Shops in America

    Here are four more delicious soup recipes:

    Pasta, Sausage, and Bean Soup
    
More than a hundred Epicurious members have given this hearty recipe a four-fork rating....

    Butternut Squash Soup with Star Anise and Ginger Shrimp
    
This soup can stand alone as dinner, with tender shrimp and velvety squash. Cut add a hunk of warm, crusty bread on the side.

    Hot-and-Sour Pumpkin Soup

    Ginger,lemongrass,and chiles give a tasty kick to traditional pumpkin soup.

    Chicken Soup with Root Vegetables 

    Sweet yams add a new dimension to the chicken stock, and the mix of root veggies turns this into a real fall favorite.

    What's your favorite fall soup?

    More from Epicurious.com:

    • Seasonal Ingredient Map
    • The Best Fall Recipes
    • Healthy Snack Taste Test
    • Back-to-School Recipes and Tips

    SUPPER CLUB PICK

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      Childhood Favorites from the Shine Supper Club
      Childhood Favorites from the Shine Supper Club

      My after-school snack was a sacred ritual. I sat on the carpet in my parents' bedroom at a low table, the television turned to "I Dream of Jeannie," and ate a peanut butter and honey sandwich cut into neat squares. I wasn't fussy about crusts. I just loved the sticky pairing of creamy peanut butter with syrupy golden sweetness drizzled from a honey bear in diagonals across the soft white bread. Nothing else--save for maybe apples and peanut butter in a pinch--could have made for as sweet an