I’m
lucky that my fiancé is so supportive of my food blog…although it does mean
that he gets a lot of exciting meals and we have an excuse to try out new
restaurants! Lance cooks for us pretty
regularly but he rarely follows a recipe.
I like to joke that most meals he makes have never been made with those
exact ingredients in the history of mankind.
But his crazy concoctions made from whatever he finds in our fridge
usually turn out great.
So
I was surprised when he found a recipe in the newspaper and decided to make it
for us one night (and actually follow the instructions!) He even photo-documented his steps for me so I
can share it with you here on the blog.
Some
of my favorite foods are the ones you find in the fall – pumpkin, squash, apples,
pears, sweet potatoes, kale, pomegranates...and anything that incorporates
these ingredients I’m guaranteed to like.
This recipe was for roasted butternut squash soup. It took a bit of time, but it was actually pretty
simple.
And
I’m sure for all of you up north, this would be a nice way to keep warm during
the cool months! (Not that we know much
about that in Florida…)
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (adapted
from Chowhound)
Ingredients:
- 4 pounds whole
butternut squash (about 2 medium), halved lengthwise and seeds removed
(you can bake the seeds with some salt, pepper & olive oil if you want
to snack on them!)
·
2 T unsalted butter
- 1 medium Granny
Smith apple
- 1/2 medium yellow
onion
- 8 fresh sage
leaves
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable
or chicken broth
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup heavy
cream
- 1/2 cup toasted
pumpkin seeds, for garnish
Directions:
1.
Heat the oven to 425°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet
with aluminum foil.
2.
Place the squash pieces cut-side up on the baking sheet. Melt 1 tablespoon of
the butter and brush all of it over the tops and insides of the squash halves. Season
generously with salt and pepper. Roast until knife tender, 50 minutes to 1
hour.
3.
Meanwhile, peel, core, and cut the apple into medium dice. Cut the onion into
medium dice.
4.
Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over
medium heat. Add the apple, onion, and sage, season with salt and pepper, and
cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Remove the pan
from the heat and set aside.
5.
When the squash is ready, set the baking sheet on a wire rack until the squash
is cool enough to handle. Using a large spoon, scoop the flesh into the
saucepan with the sautéed apples and onions; discard the skins.
6.
Add the broth, water, and measured salt and pepper, stir to combine, and bring
to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer,
stirring occasionally and breaking up any large pieces of squash, until the
flavors meld, about 15 minutes.
7.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cream.
8.
Using a blender, purée the soup in batches until smooth, removing the small cap
(the pour lid) from the blender lid and covering the space with a kitchen towel
(this allows steam to escape).
9.
Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve garnished with the
pumpkin seeds.
