One of the best bits about the cold and wet parts of the year is that you can indulge in comfort food without feeling guilty.

The cookbooks in our Winter Warmer Curated Box heavily feature the best of these recipes - think slow cooked stews and casseroles, creamy mash and filling winter veg, proper puds, and of course, warming soups.

Everyone has their favorite soup - ours is French Onion by Delia Smith (from her Winter Collection) which, if you take the cooking slowly, leaves you just enough time to whip up some homemade bread.

Soups are really versatile - not only do they make great 'use-ie up-ie' dishes when you have those leftovers in the fridge that are just too good to throw away but not quite enough to make a dinner - but they are also a great go to for a midweek lunch, appetizer for a winter gathering or just a quick dinner idea.

I love how, with simple ingredients you can make such a variety of flavors, and heartily feed a crowd at very little cost.

Types of soup can be found in all sorts of cultures- think prawn laksa, noodle soup, gazpacho, borscht etc. Whether thick and creamy, smooth or chunky, hot or cold, veg, meat or seafood, barley, peas or noodles - soups are amazing and as long as they are tasty - what could be better on a cold winters day?

Go make soup!