
Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
We’ve gotten into the habit of taking long hikes in the morning at our cottage. Our time there is seriously numbered– it’s a spot we only enjoy in the summer–so we’ve been taking full advantage of it this fall. On a recent walk, the lanes and pastures were full of trees bursting with apples. Scarlett couldn’t get enough of them. “Daddy, Get me the baby one!,” she’d yell. Actually, she was yelling because our neighbor told her bears like to eat the apples. “Bears!,” Scarlett inquired. “Don’t worry,” said Liz. “We won’t see any. They sleep during the day and, besides, if you make enough noise so they hear you coming, they’ll hide.” So Scarlett makes a lot of noise on our walks. A lot. She yells about everything. “CAN I HAVE SOME WATER, MOMMY?” It’s a bit much at 9 in the morning but I don’t want to see a bear either.
We can’t eat the apples we gather on our walks. They’re more crab apples. However, it’s more fun for us to collect the mini versions on our walks then to go to one of the popular farms outside of Toronto and pick apples with a zillion other people. I usually don’t get through the basket from those places any way. However, if you do find yourself staring down a big basket of juicy apples this fall then we’re here for you. This week we’ve got some great apple recipes for you.
This soup is a bit of a mish-mash of a few different recipes I found. I pretty much took the elements I liked from each. Scarlett and I made it one morning together so it would be ready for us when we came home for our day.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 1/4 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 Gala apple, peeled, cored, diced
- 4 1/4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup apple cider
- salt and pepper to taste
Method
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.
Add onion, nutmeg and cinnamon; saute until the onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
Add squash, broth, apple and cider.
Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer uncovered until squash and apple are tender, about 30 minutes.
Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth.
Return soup to pot and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Bring soup to simmer. Ladle into bowls.
I’d like to tell you that I peeled, sliced and cut the butternut squash myself. Alas, I didn’t. I get the best frozen organic, cut butternut squash from Whole Foods. So I threw that in the pot. In other words, this recipe was practically made in my sleep. But Scarlett did cut the apple. She was awake.
This soup smelled heavenly as it cooked. I loved that it filled my home with the sweet smell of warm, cinnamon-y apples. What I liked more was how great it tasted. Scarlett yelled, “DID WE REALLY MAKE THIS. IT’S SO GOOD!” She’s still yelling. Even though we’re home with no bears in sight.
This post was originally posted on September 19, 2011.
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4 Comments
Soup Roundup - Sweet Potato Chronicles
October 27, 07:01[…] Butternut Squash and Apple Soup. Make this soup when you want your house to smell amazing. Oh, and when you feel like a delicious, easy soup. […]
l ghione
October 27, 20:55Just made the Butternut Squash and Apple Soup. Simple and delicious! Thank you!
Laura Keogh
October 27, 21:00Oh, Great! I’m so pleased. Didn’t it smell so yummy has it was simmering? Thank you so much for reading, and even more for taking the time to write!
Roundup: Warm Your Belly Soups - Sweet Potato Chronicles
February 22, 07:03[…] Butternut Squash and Apple Soup makes me wonder if there is a better way to get your apple today? Good point, pie is good too. […]