Recipe #3 - Homemade Butternut Squash Soup

Words cannot describe my love for butternut squash soup.  It's hearty, colorful, delicious and it's perfect in the autumn or in the winter.  It tastes great with toasted bread on the side...I'll include a healthy toasted bread recipe as well.  My Mom and I came up with this particular recipe.  Feel free to add in some orange juice as well if you like the sweeter taste, but we find that it tastes better without it...  :)

Makes 6-8 servings

You'll need:
1 large white onion
4 garlic cloves
Ginger powder, or freshly ground ginger
Extra virgin olive oil
4 pounds of butternut squash (cut into small chunks)
Chicken stock, about 6-8 cups (varying depending on desired consistency)
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut the butternut squash into small chunks and put into a bowl, set aside.  Now cut the onion, put a large pot on the cooktop (at medium heat) and drizzle the bottom with the extra virgin olive oil, add the onion.  Cook the onion with salt and pepper.  Grate or grind the garlic and add to the pot, stir.  Add ginger powder and/or the grated ginger.  Stir, and cook for another 10 or so minutes, until the onions get a little bit of brown coloring, this makes the soup taste more rustic.  Put in the butternut squash and stir, adding more salt, pepper, and ginger if you'd like.  Put the cover on the pot and lower the temperature a tad, allow to sit for 20 minutes, stirring it every 5 minutes.

Continue cooking like this until the butternut squash is softer.  When you can mash the squash with your spoon, it is time to add the chicken stock.  Allow the mixture to simmer again for another 20 or so minutes, stirring throughout.

After the soup has sat, transfer the soup to a food processor or a blender and blend until smooth.  Do as many batches as neccessary, but make sure you blend all of the soup as smooth as possible.  Transfer back to the pot, stir.  Dish into bowls, serve, and enjoy!

Healthy Toasted Bread

You'll need:
Garlic salt and garlic pepper
Extra virgin olive oil
Bread of your choice (I suggest healthy whole wheat loafs and rolls)

Have the oven on a high temperature, like 375.  Cut the bread/rolls into small pieces.  Brush on the olive oil and add the garlic salt and pepper.  Put in the oven and keep an eye on it -- it will be ready very quickly!

[Pictures coming soon!]