Fall Soup

Well now that the leaves are falling and there is a chill in the air it just feels right to make a big pot of soup.  Especially a soup with some fall ingredients, like this butternut squash soup.  I served it with an endive salad and it was such a great combo.  The soup was so creamy and delicious and the endives had such a great crunch.  This meal I actually made for lunch on a day that I didn't have class, but I also think it would be filling enough for a dinner as well.  The OJ sounds like a bizarre ingredient, but trust me it is such a great addition to this soup.  I tried it before I added the OJ and it was really not very good, kind of bland and "squashy"...I enjoy making up words. :)  Once I added the OJ it really brightened up the flavor and made a huge difference, so please don't skip the OJ...it tastes good and its good for you.  Also, I added some aged white cheddar cheese that we had leftover to the salad and I thought it was a great addition, but it would have been good with out it also.  I really liked this buttermilk dressing, highly recommend.

ENJOY!

Pureed Butternut Squash Soup

2 T butter

1 small onion, chopped

1 piece peeled fresh ginger (2 in), chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 3/4 lbs small butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed and cut into cubes

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

S&P

sour cream (optional)

spicy pumpkin seeds (recipe below)

 Melt butter in a saucepan.  Cook onion for about 2 min.  Add ginger, garlic and squash; cook stirring occasionally until fragrant, 6-8 min.  Stir in 4 cups water.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until squash is tender, about 20 min.

Puree soup in two batches.  Stir in OJ and 1 1/2 tsp salt.  

Serves 4.

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

1 cup raw green pumpkin seeds

1 tsp chili powder

1/8 to 1/4 tsp cayenne

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp fresh lime juice

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine all ingredients in a bowl and toss to coat.  Spread on a baking sheet; bake until puffed and browned, about 10 min.

Apple Endive and Grape Salad

1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream

1/4 cup low fat buttermilk

2 T cider vinegar

S&P

2 fuji apples, cored and thinly sliced

1 1/2 lbs Belgian endives, halved lengthwise, trimmed and cut crosswise into 1 in pieces

2 cups seedless green grapes, halved 

1/2 cup toasted pecans

Whisk together sour cream, buttermilk, and vinegar; season with S&P.

Cut apple slices in half; add to bowl along with endives, grapes and pecans.  Toss to combine.

Serves 6

Logan Rating: **** (soup) *** (salad)