Think of tired apple branches sagging under the weight of ripened fruit, swollen root vegetables that have diligently stored every last bit of solar energy before their supposed long and restful winter...

Whether you are a farmer or a grocery store forager, fall is harvest time and, while the ingredients in this simple soup recipe are easy to find year round, they are at their best right now.

The fresher the ingredients, the better the result--but worry not, you don't need carrots that look like they were plucked from the cover of an organic gardening magazine, the plain old orange kind work just fine. I found this bunch too good to pass up. If you suddenly find one yourself within reach of a similar one I recommend snatching it up at once. If you then find yourself with twenty spare minutes and a desire for a delicious meal, here's a suggestion...

This title is not a euphemism for fasting; it describes a creamy and delicious seafood chowder free of all common allergens (except shellfish, of course).  If you're allergic to them too, you can still enjoy this recipe with a little extra work up front.

Most seafood chowders are wheat-thickened and full of dairy. This one isn't, because delicious doesn't need to feel like dying. While I'm not a big fan of coerced substitutions--yes, I'm looking at you, grain-free/dairy-free pizza--sometimes they just work. With clarified butter in the mix, there's hope for even the most gastrointestinally-sensitive lover of creamy seafood bliss.

To me, there's no food more satisfying than a hearty soup. When I was a kid, Mom made 'em all the time and I had several favorites.  From the old-fashioned potato soup to the classic chicken broth, I have many fond memories of returning to the house on a cold winter day to hunker down over a hot satisfying bowl.

Our bodies and our diets change, but we never escape those memories of comfort food--and why should we?  The idea is sound: hearty ingredients, balanced flavors, soothing textures. This was my soup revelation and I'm here to share it with you.

This household favorite is just about as easy as it gets.  It comes together quickly, uses relatively common ingredients, and has a lively satisfying flavor. There's something to be said for a recipe with so few ingredients and, in this case, that something is "yum".

Since this soup is rather basic, it is also a great place to experiment. Fresh veggies are best, but you might start more practically by checking what currently lives in your crisper. You could substitute broccolini for broccoli or an onion for the leek. The version presented here is just our favorite incarnation.