Spotlight Recipe: Speedy Soup

Try this simple soup as a quick starter to a dinner party or an easy lunch.

I needed a quick-and-simple soup to serve as a first course for a recent dinner party. My gal Dana really came through with this one. Of course, being a vegetarian, I swapped the chicken broth for low-sodium vegetable broth, but all around, it was a satisfying -- and super easy -- start to a lovely meal. (In case you're wondering, I followed it up with a lighter, veggie lasagna and simple side salad.)

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Spotlight Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup

This seasonal butternut squash soup is going to kick off my Thanksgiving meal this year. It whips up pretty easily with an immersion blender, but if you don't have that tool, running batches through a blender is a simple solution.

Spotlight Recipes: 6 Easy Soups

Homemade soup beats the canned stuff every time! Make large batches of these simple and satisfying soups, and store some in the freezer for a busy holiday weeknight.

Spotlight Recipe: Chilled Cucumber Soup

With 84 calories per serving, this dish offers spoonfuls of cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and fresh herbs with tons of vitamin A, folate and potassium.

Spotlight Recipes: Roasted Chestnuts & A Seasonal Soup

Roasting chestnuts over the fire is a popular pastime for this time of year, but that's not the only way to enjoy these sweet nuts. How about a creamy soup?

Spotlight Recipes: Gazpacho

Enjoy a refreshingly cool (and super healthy) soup this summer. Traditional gazpacho is a pureed mixture of fresh tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, onions, celery and cucumbers but don’t be afraid to get creative. Shake things up—blend a batch of watermelon, red pepper or white grape gazpacho instead.

Spotlight Recipes: Chutney

Chutney is a simmered-down or pureed combo of fruit (or veggies), spices and herbs. Instead of deep frying or drowning your fish, pork or meat in heavy sauces, opt for a tangy bite of chutney instead.

Spotlight Recipe: Michelada

Want something more exciting than bottled beer for your game-day bash? If your friends are Bloody Mary fans, this Mexican cocktail might be a winner. Lime and hot sauce liven up the flavor without adding calories.

Spotlight Recipes: Granita

Dig in to these delicious frozen treats that are reminiscent of Italian ices. Granita’s are harder in texture than sorbets and contain less sugar. To make a granita, cook up a simple sugar (combo of sugar and water) and add flavors such as coffee, mint, juice and wine along with fruit. Once the mixture has begun to freeze (it takes about 3 hours), scrape the ice crystals every so often as they start to form. Once frozen, scoop and serve.

Spotlight Recipes: Simple Smoothies

In about 5 minutes you can create an easy and tasty meal or snack. But not all smoothies are created equal. Here are tips on how to create a healthy and satisfying drink.