'Tis the season for hearty entrées that deliver classic comfort.

Get your ladles ready! It’s the time of year when most of us seek meals that feature “winter- warmers”: foods that have the capacity to warm one’s body and soul. Few dishes are up to this task better than soups, stews and chilis. Think of the chicken noodle cure for the common winter cold. Picture a hearty beef stew brimming with carrots and onions. Imagine a stick-to-the-ribs vegetarian chili, served up with a side of cornbread—or a cinnamon roll (more on that online). Have we triggered your salivary glands yet?