Monday, November 09, 2009

INDIAN SUMMER 'MISTY WATERCOLOR MEMORIES' (MONDAY MUSING) ~ BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

"The Indian Summer of life should be a little sunny and a little sad, like the season, and infinite in wealth and depth of tone, but never hustled."
~ Henry Adams
'MISTY WATERCOLOR MEMORIES'
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BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
~ Rich in antioxidants, a delicious soup that looks and tastes like autumn (adapted from Nov 2006 Food & Wine)
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8 cups organic chicken broth
1 butternut squash (quartered, seeded, peeled & cut into 2-inch squares)
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 minced garlic cloves
2 sliced (well-cleaned) chopped leeks
1-2 diced celery ribs
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (2 tsp. dried)
1 finely diced carrots
1 finely diced red pepper
1 finely diced orange pepper
1 cup corn kernels
1 can rinsed cannellini (white kidney), garbanzo (chick) peas,
or pinto beans
2 cups chopped spinach, collard, or kale
coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper
crisp thick crumbed bacon (optional) garnish

  • In large stockpot, heat olive oil. Add garlic, leeks, celery and saute until limp. Add broth, squash and thyme. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
  • Puree soup either in bathes, returning to pot, or directly in pot with blending stick.
  • Add carrots, peppers, corn and beans. Bring to a boil and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add greens and cook until wilted
  • Ladle in bowls and top with optional crumbed bacon. (6-8 servings)

25 comments:

Unknown said...

Yummmy. I have several squash to eat. I think I will roast one tonight.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Butternut is probably my favorite squash but I've never tired it in soup form.

What a lovely picture. The colors blend so well.
Marnie

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Your 'smells' wonderful Joey! Perfect soup on a bit chilly November day.

joey said...

Flowrgrl1 ~ I could eat squash everyday in the fall!

Thank Marnie! I love squash soup and have many favorite recipes for this time of year, not knowing which I like best. Hope you are enjoying this amazing weather!

Hi Tyra! Today is stunning & 64-F ... Indian Summer at its finest! Every day could be a soup day for me ... love it!

Rose said...

Beautiful watercolor, Joey! I am certainly enjoying this Indian Summer right now. I've seen several recipes for butternut squash soup but haven't tried it; I'm sure it must be very healthy!

Chloe m said...

Maybe if my mom would have made squash in soup like this, I would have eaten it when I was little. I like it in soup...delicious.
Thanks for sharing this recipe, Joey!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

The photo is layer-y and misty and colorful, like the corners of my mind... HA! All the leaves are down here; I'm assuming "up the road" too?

joey said...

Thanks Rose. Fun striving for muted colors that reminded me of a watercolor painting. Not only healthy, butternut squash soup is delicious ... do hope you give it a try some day. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised :)

Funny, Rosey, I HATED squash growing up. I would watch my mother devour one with such joy, eating nothing else, that once I started cooking and tasted (eons ago), I understood! I think the name SQUASH was a BIG turnoff :)

LOL Monica ~ let's enjoy this 'memory' month! Yes & no regarding leaves ... UP NORTH, all gone ... here ... spent 4 hours in the garden while Mr. Ho-Hum did leaves (a November gift for sure since, if you remember, we all got caught short last fall with an early blast of winter). With the variety of trees in our yard, we still have some left ... like the Norway maple that often teases us until December!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Joey!
I'm so glad I've discovered your blog. I have to cook dinner for a group of [slightly unappreciative] family members every Tuesday. Your recipes are making me look like a rock star... :D

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, fall colors are already a memory. But what a show it was this year, as your lovely photo shows. I love acorn squash myself, baked with butter and brown sugar inside. Yum!

joey said...

Kate, you are too sweet! Glad you're enjoying ... keep up the great work :)

That's my favorite too, Robin (plus lots of cracked pepper)! Happy November :)

Unknown said...

Soup sounds delish! The quote and the image...very beautiful!

donna said...

My husband is a fan of all the yellow/orange vegetables. I prefer the green ones. He'd luv this soup and I may make it for him.

We are certainly having Indian Summer weather right now. I bet it's the same there in Michigan.

Gail said...

Beautiful image and quote Joey! ...and this butternut squash recipe sounds tasty and healthy! I serve at least one butternut squash dish every year to my guests at the gf's party! This is the one this year! gail

joey said...

Thanks Kanak ~ it's always fun creating a tasty recipe with photo to compliment. Glad you enjoyed :)

Hi Donna ~ at least you are both eating your veggies! I crave vegetables like most crave sweets, which is good since I also crave chocolate :) These past days have been a blessing, heavenly warm & wonderful so bonus days cleaning the garden ... have yet to see snowflakes (yea)!

joey said...

Thanks Gail ~ hope it works for you! If not, I have many other recipes posted here ... simply key in butternut squash at the top of my blog. Hope you're enjoying this beautiful weather :)

Marysol said...

You've just made two people very happy. Me, with your colorful autumnal watercolor. And my daughter, whose favorite soup is butternut squash.
Have a great week dear one.

marmee said...

gorgeous image.
wasn't that the line in the way we were?

Victoria said...

Just lovely!! I love Butternut squash...super yummy! Beautiful picture too..your posts are always so charming!

joey said...

... and you too, dear Marysol. Love the goodies popping out regularly from your creative kitchen. You're a star in my books :)

Thanks Marmee and indeed it was!

Thanks, Kiki, very kind of you to say. Your last 'blue' post was extremely charming!

Bren Haas said...

I can hold out for Christmas when I visit your page... Awwww Fall!
My trees are all naked and it is getting to be those 'blah' days in Ohio. Don't you love a photo because you can cherish the moment forever!

Katarina said...

Ah, that's a lovely quote and very appropriate for me, I guess... ; ) "The Indian Summer of Life" - I'll have to remember that!

joey said...

Yes, I do treasure photos for that very reason, dear Bren. Love that you are so passionate about everything you do, even early Christmas :)

I'm there, dear Katarina, so the quote really hit home for me. Indian Summer hugs :)

Carol said...

You have it all covered Joey... all the senses ( I can just hear all the ingredients sizzle) ... utterly beautiful yet again and again. You know your photos and collages with their quotes would make a wonderful book. I am sure you have been told that before... and of course it is a bit of a book this way. I just had a bowl of butternut squash soup tonight... it was vegan but yours could be too just leaving off the broth... it sure looks very healthy from your ingredients. Delicious! I would never have thought to add all the greens, peas and beans. Carol

joey said...

How kind, Carol, thank you ... a book someday would be great. I'm a big soup lover! Yes, this is a bit heartier than than regular puree of butternut squash and you certaily could use vegetable broth instead of chicken with similar results.