The pleasures of a hearty, warming bowl of soup can hardly be overstated. Replete with vegetables, beans, grains, or meats, few foods are more gratifying to make -- or easier. Soups require almost no culinary skill, no elaborate equipment. They store well, and most of them taste even better prepared in advance. Judy Knipe, coauthor of SPA FOOD and NEW SPA FOOD, knows how traditional foods can be transformed into elegant meals that satisfy the way we eat now. In SENSATIONAL SOUPS she has created more than seventy-five truly wonderful soups for every occasion and every palate: vegetable soups, hearty bean soups, fish, meat, and poultry soups, and simple (but delicious) stocks. Here's everything you need to make a meal with soup as the centerpiece: elaborate party fare such as Lemon Lentil Soup and Shrimp Soup with Saffron and Tomatoes; family favorites such as Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup; and flavorful, low-fat entrees such as Carrot Tarragon Soup. Whether you're looking for comforting chicken soup to accompany a sandwich or a light supper that will take the chill off a wintry night, you'll find the perfect recipe in SENSATIONAL SOUPS.