My Mom was a good cook and baker, but soup was rarely part of the menu when I was growing up. Occasionally, we would be served the canned variety for lunch, which probably explains why it took a few years of cooking for myself before I developed a passion for a comforting bowl of homemade soup. I enjoy soup year round, but when the cold temperatures have me in their grip, there's really nothing finer to ward off the winter chills.

This Indian-style creamy pea soup that includes frozen peas in addition to green split peas is quite possibly one of the best pea soups that I have ever eaten. Slightly spicy, earthy, thick and satisfying, I served it up to some friends with some cardamon rice cakes and plump Cheddar Dijon biscuits. If my dining pals were still hungry after dinner, it wasn't food they were craving.

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Lime, cilantro and fresh jalapeños offer a fresh and zippy contrast to the earthy nuttiness of brown rice in this simple Mexican-style side dish. This would go well with my classic refried beans, or Southwest vegetarian chili, or black bean and corn bake with cheese topping.

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Tempted by the idea of quinoa, my favorite grain, which also happens to contain nearly complete proteins, and further attracted by the idea of combining its nutty flavor with the earthy taste of black-eyed peas, I whipped up a batch of these satisfying little croquettes that I based on a recipe I found in Vegan with a Vengeance: Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock. Because they are baked instead of fried, the effort involved is really rather minimal, but the dining experience most delightful.

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A hot bowl of creamy tomato soup always provides warmth and comfort on a cold winter day, so why not turn that bowl into a filling meal as well? Puréed beans lend a hearty and heartening creaminess to any soup, while adding plenty of fiber, protein and numerous essential minerals and vitamins.

This roasted tomato soup with pinto beans is flavored with a sweet and smoky blend of roasted garlic and herbs, and while it's nothing to look at particularly, the delicious aroma will certainly draw the attention of anyone within sniffing distance. Best of all, the soup is easy enough to make that you won't flinch at having to prepare it after a long day of work.

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