Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

It's the perfect time for Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

and Beer Bread Muffins!!

There's snow in the air ...... and on the pumpkins!

This is my favourite butternut squash soup recipe:

Peel and seed a Butternut Squash

Cut it into large chunks.

Add 2 unpeeled cloves of garlic and toss with 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil.

Pour this onto parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle with fresh chopped Thyme and Summer Savory.

Season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Roast at 425F for 25 minutes.

This smells so good while it roasts!

While the squash roasts, prepare the soup base by bringing 4 Cups of broth (vegetable or chicken) to a simmer.

Add 1 chopped apple, 2 Tbsp. grated ginger and a sprig of Thyme.

Continue to simmer till squash is roasted and apples are tender.

Remove the garlic peel. Combine the squash and garlic with the broth.  Cool slightly.

Use an immersion blender or stand blender to blend the mixture to a smooth and silky consistency.
My vitamix blender made short order of the blending - smooth as silk!

Heat thoroughly and serve with a splash of fresh cream or sour cream.

Serve with a quick bread muffin (we enjoy Beer Bread Muffins from the Muffin Mania Cookbook)

3 Cups flour

5 tsp. baking powder

3 Tbsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Bottle of Beer

Shredded Cheese - optional

Combine dry ingredients.

Pour in the beer and stir with a fork till combined.

Scoop into greased muffin tin (makes 12 muffins)

 Top with some grated cheese.

Bake at 325F for 15-20 minutes.

Till next time .......... find some golden warm recipes to fight the dull drums of a snowy November day! 

Glow juice

Here she is ..... my latest kitchen appliance!

She is so sturdy and broad of girth

that she looks like a giant in my small country kitchen.

I finally had a chance to give her a "whirl" today.

My sweet daughter gifted me with this famous "Oh She Glows" cookbook

by Angela Liddon

and I've been anxious to try some of the smoothie recipes.

No more excuses now that I have my Vitamix!

I used one of the Yogi Juice recipes

with a few slight variations.

The Beet-utiful Power Glow recipe calls for

1 seedless cucumber - I used half.

1 small beet - peeled and chopped - I grew some candy-cane striped beets so I used one of those.

1 medium carrot - peeled and chopped.

1 - 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice - I also added lime juice.

1 small apple - cored and chopped.

I added two handsful of spinach and 1 banana.

It also seemed too thick so I added 1/2 Cup of water.

My juice came out looking green but if you use

a red beet it would be a lovely red like in the book.

This made approx. 3 servings and the fresh flavour was delightful.

The banana added just the right amount of sweetness.

The recipe suggested straining the mixture or not if you like the pulpy texture. I chose not to strain but could have used a wider straw - just saying!

Because my Vitamix is so powerful it was unnecessary to  slightly steam the beet before blending - bonus.

Now I'm hoping the power part kicks in and gives me the umph I need to

tackle the flower beds today....

Till next time - making the most of my Monday!