Feeling Saucy and Soupy

How's the pre-Thanksgiving festivities going? Anyone into full out cookie baking mode yet? I can feel them approaching. There's Christmas music on the radio here, and the stores have been absolutely plastered with green and red for a few weeks now. I can't blame them at all though... I read awhile back that the holiday season accounts for something like 60% of retail annual sales each year. That's not having all your eggs in one basket, but def more than half of them :)

The holidays are pretty much an awesome time. I think it's a fantastic time to enjoy yourself, keep in touch with forgotten friends, and wrap up the loose ends of your life. Come January, the gloves come off, and new goals are get set in place. Think about where you want to be a year from now, and write that stuff down, so you're held to it. Sounds a little scary to be held accountable... but that's the point :)

I've been seeing butternut squash recipes alot lately. Like over here, and here, and many more others. And I don't blame you guys, I mean they are tasty, weird looking veggies. Even more interesting is the whole "squash and pasta concept". Whoever came up with that is a genius. While there's nothing wrong with tomato sauce at all (classic) I have to admit it's nice for a change. I had a problem though.

I couldn't really care less about pasta.

Ok... ok.... ok... don't leave!

You don't want to be my friend anymore? Wait I still love tomato sauce! Well, sorry but I just like other starches better. Give me sweet potatoes, or barley, or some rye bread. And I don't feel tired after eating those either. Pasta puts me in a coma after eating. Not exactly a great thing if you still have stuff to do that day.

So I wanted to try that butternut pasta thing... but without the pasta. It's been in the colder 50s here lately... so that equals soup to me.

Butternut Tomato Soup that is.

I don't really have any specific ingredient amounts or anything, so just read along and go with it. Make the soup your own if you want. It's easy as pie. Actually pie can be a pain to make, when the dough is too warm. Soup is super easy. Dump in a pot and heat. Gotta love it :)



Butternut Tomato Soup
Dr. Adam

-1 medium onion, chopped and diced pretty small
-2 ribs celery, diced
-1 tbs olive oil

-1 can diced tomatoes, use the juice too
-1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
-3 cups chicken stock (or any stock)
-Some wine... I used white cause it was open
-Handfuls of basil and sage
-Salt and Pepper to taste

I chose to keep this really easy. Read and follow the pics.

In a large pot... add the onion, celery, and oil on medium head. Stir frequently until the veggies sweet and soften a bit. Then add the tomatoes and squash, and cook for a few minutes until some of water evaporates. About 5 minutes.

Add the stock, and wine, and cover and cook for 20 minutes, or until the squash softens up a bit. If it needs longer, just let it continue to cook until it becomes more mushy. Add the herbs, and cook again for another 5 minutes, and the kitchen will smell aromatic and great.

Turn off the heat and let cool. When the soup is cooler, use an immersion blender and blend the soup up to the consistency you want. Leave some chunks if you'd like, or completely puree it if that's what you want. Just be careful and don't let the soup splatter on you :) Add some salt and pepper to taste.


That's it... now you have tasty awesome soup, with a nice orange red color.

Stay tuned for some more recipes this coming holiday season. It gives me an excuse to bake a little more and spring up some sweets on my friends. I think we are doing a cookie exchange soon, and I'm sure I'll have a little pressure to be number one... not that it's a competition or anything :)

Have a great rest of the weekend, and stay warm!