With some really atrocious weather inbound for northeast Ohio (no joke, I’ve heard weather reporters call it “Snowmageddon”) we’re going to bundle up, hunker down, reach into the pantry, and make some hearty soups. For the cold weather this year, and for years into the future, consider adding some of the recipes coming up this week to your repertoire. Learning these simple recipes will allow you to have a variety of choices when you need something hearty to fill your belly.

Phở: This is a Vietnamese noodle soup that does wonders for warming your body and your soul. Short of kidnapping a Vietnamese grandmother, make the best phở you’ve ever had.

Black Bean Soup: A simple, spicy soup, with hints of Tex-Mex flavors. Great with tortilla chips, this soup eats like a meal. With chorizo sausage and bacon, it’s not particularly healthy, but it is delicious.

Oxtail Soup: So hearty you’ll forget you’re eating soup. A classic Depression-era recipe, there’s something to learn from history about eating good with less expensive cuts of meat.

Potato Leek Soup: Julia Child’s classic recipe revisited and updated. Easier to prepare than the original, but it packs just as much flavor with fewer calories. Rich, but healthy.

Red Pepper Tomato Bisque: Stepping up the American classic with sweet and savory flavors. See what adding some pepper can do to enhance the taste and texture of this otherwise boring canned-soup-fare.

Come back over the next few days to work through each of these great tastes!