I was born in July, dead-smack in the middle of summer, and frequently use it as an excuse for absolutely hating cold weather. "But you're from Boston," my friends would remark, "You should be used to the cold."

Well, it's the one part of me that never got New England-ified (that and total disinterest in the Red Sox.) Despite spending most of my life in cold northern climates, I somehow never got used to frigid weather. In winter, I'm usually much more bundled up than anyone around me. In the summer, even during heat waves, I'm the girl who takes a cardigan everywhere, just in case there's air-conditioning on overdrive somewhere in the city. I take hot showers as soon as it dips below 80 degrees.

The only thing comforting about the colder seasons is the food. Or more specifically, big bubbling pots of soup.

Recently I made a big pot of orange-scented lentil soup out of Dorie Greenspan's Around My French Table. I've made lentil soup hundreds of times in various forms, but have never thought to put orange peels to add a nice citrus aroma. I had to add a bit more orange peel and coriander than the recipe suggested to get the light citrus scent, but it was a nice change from the lentil soup I usually make.

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