Takeout and half-and-halfs can only sustain a person for so long before one must venture into the kitchen and cook their own food. These recipes have something for all skill levels — people who have yet to venture into their dorm kitchens, the Dauten kitchen regulars, and even microwave-friendly options for those who really don’t want to leave their room on a rainy Sunday morning.

Leaves are changing, cool weather is blowing in, sweaters are coming out of closets … It’s finally fall, y’all. As the seasons change and as I am settling in for a long Missouri winter, the craving for a warm bowl of soup has possessed me once again. I usually would beg my family for soup, but now I am at the helm of my own soup making. My hope is to assist you, fledgling chef, in charting your own path with a handful of suggestions, cooking tips, and encouragement among the colorful foliage of this crisp Midwestern fall.

“I failed my first two chem quizzes and absolutely bombed my calculus test. I don’t know what to do! I used to be such a good test-taker, and school came easily to me. Now, the imposter syndrome is taking over, and I feel like I’m going to fail at everything. I don’t know what to do or think anymore.”