Creamy Squash Soup

Day 54

I really love soup, and have a particular weakness for cream soups. I usually make this one a lot and it's just a fluke or something that I haven't made any in the past 52 days. I even posted my recipe on another blog I keep. Tonight, I doubled the recipe.

Creamy Squash Soup & Pumpernickel Bread

Ingredients

2 medium squashes
2 - 3 small onions
2 Granny Smith apples
1 box vegetable broth
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1  1/2 cup coffee cream
2 cups water
4 tbsp roasted, salted pumpkin seeds

Two squashes, one halved with seeds

Two halved, deseeded squashes ready for roasting

Squash halves inside down in roast pan

These pics pretty much describe how to prepare your squash. Using a dependable knife, carefully cut each squash in half and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Place the halves skin-side-up in a roast pan. Add 2 or 3 cups of water to the pan, cover and roast for about 40 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Meanwhile....

Chop your onions and apples and healthy sauté in veggie broth, just enough to cover. Sauté until onions are clear and apples are soft. 

Granny Smiths and onions

Onion Tip:

If you notice when peeling your onions that they are particularly strong and causing you to tear up, chop in half and drop in a bowl of cold water for 5 or 10 minutes. You should then be able to chop them quite painlessly. These ones from Laura's garden were such onions. Very good, but strong.

Onions in cold water

Add your spices and seasonings to the onion/apple mixture to give the flavors time to meld. Add the rest of the broth, cover and simmer on low until squash is done.

Cooked squash

Remove the squash peeling and add the fruit to the onion/apple/broth mixture. Stir in and remove from heat.

Cooked, peeled squash

Once it's slightly cooled, purée it in the blender in batches until it's nice and smooth.

Pureed squash in blender

Add it back to the pot and bring to a gentle boil. Remove it from the heat and slowly whisk in the cream. This prevents it from curdling. Place it back on the heat to heat it up, but don't bring to another boil.

Big pot of creamy squash soup

The Garnish

We like to garnish with pumpkin seeds, but that's totally optional. 

Squash soup with pumpkin seeds

Pumpernickel Bread

It's super good served with some type of buttered rye bread. I found a big, soft loaf of pumpernickel at Atlantic tonight. Couldn't score any type of rye loaf at Sobey's at all. It was worth the drive to Atlantic. So good! Cheap too; only $2.50.

Pumpernickel bread

Reviews/Comments

Laura: "Yummy. You make the best squash soup."
I'll take it.