Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!!


Pumpkin Soup


Adapted; Scott Peacock & Edna Lewis-The Gift of Southern Cooking

2 small pumpkin (about 4 lbs) or canned pumpkin
6 slices bacon
1 large sweet onion
2 small shallots
1 clove garlic
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
6 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup sherry
1 1/2 cup heavy cream

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Split the pumpkins in half and remove the seeds and fiber from them. Place them on a parchment lined roasting side, cut side down and add 1 cup water to pan.
Bake for 1 1/2 hours, until the skin is a nice deep color and the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife.
Remove from the oven and let cool enough to handle.
Peel off the skin, or alternately scoop out the flesh and set aside in a bowl.
While the pumpkin is baking prepare your other ingredients.
Cut bacon into 1/2 inch pieces and cook in a heavy soup pot over medium-low heat till nice and brown. When done, remove bacon pieces and set aside.
Keeping the bacon fat in the pot add your onions, shallots, leeks and garlic and saute over medium-high heat, stirring often so that the mixture doesn’t burn, for about 5 minutes.
Add your thyme, bay leaf, salt, pepper, nutmeg and pumpkin. Stir the pumpkin well with the other ingredients and saute for about 5 minutes longer. Be careful that your vegetables do not burn.
Add your chicken stock, bring the mixture to a simmer and let cook for 20 minutes longer.
Remove the bay leaf from the pot, and carefully pour the mixture into a food processor or blender in batches and puree till smooth.
Return the mixture to the soup pot or dutch oven and bring the soup to a simmer again.
Add the sherry, and simmer gently for 3-5 minutes. Add the cream if desired and taste for seasoning as you might need more salt, pepper and or nutmeg.
Serve with fresh grated nutmeg and the browned bacon bits on top.

Hope you All have a Safe and fun Halloween!!!

17 comments:

Dawn said...

I think on this soup that I would not have to know what I was eating. It does sound good, though!!

Happy Halloween !!

*HUGS*

Donna said...

Dawn-Hahahaa....just close your eyes!! Happy Day sweetie!hughugs

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

My Son does'nt eat Pumpkin But his all time Favourite soup is Pumpkin soup,Go Figure!
It sounds delish

Donna said...

Cupcake-Hahahaa.....smart Kid!! Altough I DO Love me some pumpkin Pie!! Happy weekend Sweetheart!hughugs

Amanda said...

I hope you have a happy halloween too!
That sounds really nice, i love eating pumpkin. I will give it a try!

Tabitha said...

Happy Halloween Donna!!
love and hugs XXXXX

Brit. (lille meg) said...

This looks good!
We have also had halloween visitors here.

Thank you for your kind comments, and have a nice weekend!:)

Donna said...

Amanda- Have a Great night Sweetie!!hughugs


Tabitha- Thanks Sweetie!! You too!!!hughugs


Lille- You're so welcome!! Happy weekend!!hughugs

dabrah said...

Happy Halloween.

Donna said...

Happy Halloween! LOL, saw your comment on my blog. I'm OK - went out with a girlfriend today and recovering from a terrible migraine (yesterday). Will try to do a post this weekend. Thanks for worrying about me!

Donna said...

Thanks Dabrah! To You Too!!hughugs

Donna- Out with a girlfriend? Headache Today?? Marty called and told me Everything!!Hahaaaa...Get to feeling better Sweetie!!hughugs

Faery said...

Happy Halloween! I love Pumpkin soup now, about 10 years ago I didn't, this one sounds really good

Donna said...

Faery- Good! Try it...I like Most things made with pumpkin...Happy night sweetie!!hughugs

bichonpawz said...

I love pumpkin pie....so why not soup?? Sounds delicious! Hope you had a wonderful halloween!

Donna said...

A belated Happy Halloween!

The soup sounds delish!

Hugs,
Donna

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

That looks and sounds a wonderful recipe - will have to try it. M xx

Texas Travelers said...

I'm off to the Grocery for fresh pumpkins.

Thanks for sharing. It sounds good..

We make Pumpkin Cheesecake last week ( and the week before ).