Sunday, January 18, 2009

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup



I have to admit: my best friend shared this with me after one of her culinary-trained friends shared it with her. I tend to use very little salt and more flavor in my recipes, so season to your taste...


This is a healthy and satisfying soup for any season. Baking the squash instead of peeling it saves time and creates a wonderful aroma in the kitchen. You can also bake the seeds for an extra snack!

Makes 12 (1 cup) servings

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 medium onions, peeled and sliced (3 cups)
3 pounds butternut squash, halved and seeded (save the seeds)
1 teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
1 rounded teaspoon ground cumin
3 sprigs of fresh thyme or ½ rounded teaspoon of dried ground thyme
2 cans of low-sodium chicken broth

Directions:

On foil-lined pan, coat foil with a small amount of olive oil and bake the squash, skin side down, for 30 – 45 minutes in a 350-degree oven. If you save the seeds, you can lightly salt and bake them on a cookie sheet for about 20 minutes.


In a 6-quart soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat and stir in the onions. Cover, reduce the heat, and braise for 15 minutes, checking that the onions don't burn.

Add the cooked squash to the onions. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, cumin, and thyme. Stir and add the broth.

Purée the soup with an immersion blender.

Taste to add more salt and cumin as desired.


Serve hot with croutons. Enjoy!

Looking Fine in ’09

Have you started your healthy lifestyles routine, yet? If not, GET GOING!


If you have started, are you struggling to complete any of your routines? As you know, life is full of fluctuations in our schedules, family life, work atmosphere, etc. So, how we "roll with it" and "keep ourselves out of trouble" is the best indicator for success!


Remember, we all need someone out there to help keep us motivated. It could be from merely having a family member urge you on to a personal trainer you see three to four times a week. Whatever it takes, you need to make it happen! You’re worth it!


Check out this week’s Illinois Times for an article I wrote on questions to ask yourself when starting a weight loss program. You have to assess where you mind is at, so you can focus on the goals. If you are preoccupied by someone who is hurtful to you or perhaps a death you have not grieved, these can definitely get in the way of your success.


To read more about it, here is the link to the article:


http://illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A9344

Stay tuned for a great recipe that’s satisfying and EASY!