i've been on a soup kick lately

i think i'm just ready for it to feel like fall, which its not really going to do here, even though it is technically fall now. so i keep trying different soups in attempt to fake fall. and of course i'm going to pick somewhat fruity soups, since i love to cook dishes that include fruits. this recipe comes via care2. the website offers a ton of green living tips and recipes. some of which are martha stewarty (in that 'who really does that anyway' sort of way. sure i'd love to grow my own carrots but since i can't, i'm ok to buy them at the grocery) but some are down to earth and great.


squash, cider, and apple soup

2 tablespoons
unsalted butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
2 large apples (any kind), peeled, cored, and chopped
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
¼ teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
1 ½ cups fresh cider
2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Large pinch of ground cloves

melt the butter in a medium-size pot or large saucepan over moderate heat. stir in the onion, cover, and sweat for 10 minutes. add the squash, apples, stock, salt, and bay leaf to the pot. bring to a boil, reduce the heat to moderately low, cover, and simmer the soup until the squash and apples are very soft, about 20 minutes. remove from the heat. as the soup simmers, pour the cider into a medium-size skillet, bring to a boil, and reduce to 4 or 5 tablespoons. remove from the heat. remove the bay leaf from the soup, then spoon the solids into a food processor. process the mixture until smooth, then stir it back into the broth. add the reduced cider. reheat the soup, stirring in the brown sugar and spices. serve piping hot. enjoy!