Butternut Squash Carrot Soup

Butternut Squash Carrot Soup 8

Another wonderful fall soup!  We ordered 25 pounds of carrots from our grocery co-op not long ago so we are making use of them.  Even with all our efforts, I am sure we will end up pickling quite a few--not a bad thing.

I played with this soup a bit.  I added an apple and cinnamon and nutmeg because I wanted my taste buds to shout, "Welcome Glorious Autumn!"  It worked.  You could easily use a pear in place of the apple. 

Just look at all the wonderful produce that goes into the pot!  Squash, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, sage, and apple!  I felt so good eating this!  My kids liked our "Halloween Soup" as well.  We were able to provide this as a meal to a friend doing her part to kick cancer's hiney, and we could feel good about it!  Served it garnished with freshly roasted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds), a side of our go-to cornbread, and peach slices--a bit monochromatic but still yummy.

Black Bean Pumpkin Soup

Black Bean Pumpkin Soup  9

I've made this for a few years and really enjoy it around this time of year.  It is a hearty, healthy, and perfectly seasonal. 

I omit the shallot and just add a 1/2 cup more of chopped onion.  I used vegetable stock and wasn't disappointed.  You can omit the sherry if you choose not to cook with wines. I used white wine vinegar to taste in place of the Sherry vinegar.  It's pretty forgiving. Garnished with freshly roasted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds).

This does make a lot so we eat it for a few days.