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I am really a very simple country girl at heart. As long as I am fed 3 warm meals a day, provided with a continuous supply of purified room temperature water and my Sonicare toothbrush, I’d be happy living in a tent studying endangered orchids. No mirror necessary. No shoes needed. Happy as a bee. Content as a clam. If one of those daily meals were a scrumptious bowl of soup…well, that’s what I’d call heaven.
Soup. So versatile. So inviting. Every bowl holds its own personality and story. The possibilities are limitless.
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This Butternut Squash Bisque is smooth, glorious velvet in a bowl. Barely sweetened with apple, slightly warmed with cinnamon and cayenne…and then nudged to perfection with a generous dose of half and half. A new favorite in my house, indeed. Had a hard day at work? Relax and be gentle with yourself. Eat some soup!
Butternut Squash Bisque adapted from Martha Stewart, oh yeah
Ingredients
3 Tablespoons Butter
1 Medium Yellow Onion, Chopped
1 Four Pound Butternut Squash (or it’s equivalent, I know you are smart enough for this), prepared in 1 inch cubes
1 Small Golden Delicious Apple, peeled and chopped
2 Crushed Garlic Cloves
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne
3 Cups Water
1 & 3/4 Cup Chicken Broth
1 Cup Half and Half
Salt to Taste! More than you’d think….mmmhmmm
Directions
In large soup pot or sauce pan, melt your butter. Add your chopped Onion, and all of your dried spices. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning. This is my favorite part really. The heat and oil release the magic within the fragrant spices. Now add your crushed garlic and cook for about one minute.
Add your squash, apple, water and broth. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until squash is tender. Once cooked, puree until smooth. You can either do this the fancy way with a hand held emulsion blender. Oh Santa….I’ve been a good girl this year. I need one! Or you can do it like I do and work in batches with a blender.
Once pureed, stir your half and half into the soup. Bring back to a soft simmer. I really don’t like to boil dairy because I find that it causes separation to occur, so try not to boil!
Add salt! Enjoy!
All photos were taken by a man who adores any food with the same color as his hair, Evan Lentz.