Mealtime, anytime, nothing could be more satisfying than a bowl of homemade soup.

Be it a steaming bowl of Minestrone to take the bite out of a winter day or a delicate Raspberry Lime Soup for sultry summer nights when appetites are flagging, these eighty enticing recipes for soups, stews, and chilies are simple for even the novice cook, and creatively appealing to the experienced chef. Anyone with a deep pot and a ladle can make sumptuous meals of a rich Curried Chicken Stew or a refreshing chilled Breakfast Fruit Soup in about half an hour.

From warm, comforting classics like Matzo Ball Soup, New England Clam Chowder, and Beef Stew to elegant meal openers like Carrot with Ginger Cream or Avocado Gazpacho, there's a taste for every season, a treat for every palate.