Name: Sweet-Potato Soup with Nutmeg and Maple Syrup
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 first-course servings
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter; 1 cup chopped onion; 2 small celery stalks, stalks and leaves chopped separately; 1 medium leek, sliced (white and pale green parts only); 1 large garlic clove, chopped; 1 1/2 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams), peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 5 cups); 4 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth; 1 cinnamon stick; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1 1/2 cups half and half; 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

"While visiting my daughter near Portland, Oregon, I ordered the soup of the day at Mother's Bistro & Bar," writes Roslyn Levy of Palm Harbor, Florida. "It turned out to be the best sweet-potato soup I've ever had."

Buy leafy celery stalks for this soup; the chopped leaves make a great garnish.

Recipe notes

Caramelized Onion Pasta

Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Mascarpone Cheesecake

An extra-silky filling (no water bath needed!) and a smooth sour cream topping make this the ultimate cheesecake.

Cod With Lemon Butter Sauce

A flurry of fresh tarragon makes this speedy weeknight dish of seared cod and luscious, sun-colored pan sauce feel restaurant worthy.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Crème Anglaise

The silky French vanilla sauce that goes with everything.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.