Soup season! Here are 8 of our favorite recipes from Alaska cooks.

My son once decided he wanted to be a can of soup for Halloween. So we pulled together a costume out of hula hoops and fabric to look like Campbell’s tomato with arm holes. It happened at the same time that he was taking a songwriting class, which is how he composed a song about his costume entitled “Gonna be soup!” Those were the only words, repeated to the tune of that old “Break me off a piece of that” Kit Kat candy bar jingle tune, ending with the line, “Gonna, gonna, gonna, gonna, gonna be soup!” He sang it over and over until I lost my mind.

Now he’s in middle school, light years away from the soup song, but I am singing it this week about what we’re having for dinner as the city digs out of the first real snow. Here are some of our favorite soup recipes from Alaska cooks.

Nordstrom Cafe tomato soup

Miss the grandeur of that swanky, old-fashioned department store with its bustle and style? You can still make the classic tomato soup from the cafe complete with a parmesan crisp! Here’s an adaptation of an old recipe. Turns out the soup is quite cheap and easy to make.

Roasted butternut squash soup with bacon and goat cheese

Yes you can tackle a big butternut squash. There’s a pot of smoky, velvety soup waiting for you on the other side.

Green chicken pozole

This Mexican stew, made with hominy, is relatively light, warming and feeds a crowd. It also has a host of delicious garnishes that make it feel like a real meal.

Copycat Olive Garden pasta e fagioli with moose

This pasta e fagioli recipe, a take on the popular soup from the Olive Garden, uses vegetables, two kinds of beans and meat settled nicely into a thick, tomatoey broth. If you happen to have some ground moose meat on hand from a recent hunt, or if a friend or family member might have been kind enough to share theirs with you, this soup is a perfect place to use it.

Caramelized kimchi ramen

This ramen soup with caramelized kimchi is nourishing and adaptable. Noodles and broth get their star turn at the table with a kick from kimchi sautéed in butter and whatever proteins or vegetables you have on hand.

Broccoli cheddar soup

Not too thick and not too thin, this soup is made with real, sharp cheddar cheese. You’ll find loads of broccoli in every spoonful that hasn’t lost its crunch.

White bean soup with sweet potatoes and sausage

Quick and simple, this hearty soup is tremendously satisfying for those soup weather days.

Ribollita

Italian bread soup, also known as ribollita, is a simple vegetable soup you ladle over a slice of bread that has been toasted in olive oil. Don’t underestimate its warm, nourishing goodness.