Pumpkins, roadside stands & soup

On my drive to work every day, I pass by a lot of farms. Several of these farms have roadside stands, selling fresh produce like tomatoes, zucchini and corn during the summer. Now, they’re overflowing with gorgeous pumpkins and squash.

I stopped by one of the stands to pick up a few for my family (we love squash…or at least the adults do. The six year old scrunches up her nose when she tastes it). I was amazed by the sheer variety they had for sale–so many different shapes, textures and colors!

There are so many ways to enjoy pumpkin: there’s the classic pie, of course, but also soups, stews, casseroles, quick breads and pasta sauce.  Many of us think of pumpkin as something for dessert (probably because pumpkin pie is sooo good!), but it’s equally tasty in savory dishes and main courses like this recipe for pumpkin soup. It might sound odd if you’ve never tried it, but it’s surprisingly yummy. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

This recipe calls for canned pumpkin. If you’re interested in trying it with fresh pumpkin, here’s how to cook it.

Creamy Pumpkin Soup

• 1 Tbsp. light stick butter
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1 (15-oz.) can unsweetened pumpkin (or 1 3/4 cup mashed cooked pumpkin)
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 cup fat-free half-and-half
• 1 Tbsp. parsley, chopped (optional)
• 1 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped (optional)
• 1 Tbsp. radish, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg (optional)

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add onion and cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring constantly.
3. Add pumpkin and remaining ingredients, stirring well with a whisk.
4. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
5. Purée mixture, in batches, in an electric blender.
6. Return to saucepan and cook until thoroughly heated.
7. Garnish with parsley, chopped cilantro, chopped radish or nutmeg (optional).

More from Ginny's Recipes & Tips

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Introducing Cailey – the new Social Media Analyst

Introducing Cailey – the new Social Media Analyst

Pancake Topping Bar

Pancake Topping Bar

Meatball visits the Ginny’s House

Meatball visits the Ginny’s House