Thanksgiving is next week, and I can’t wait to get cozy and spend time with my family in snowy upstate New York. This time of year is my absolute favorite for many reasons. Watching snow fall, having a fire going, festive parties(and cocktails :)), decorating the house, CHRISTMAS MOVIES! What takes the cake for me though, is Winter cooking. There really is no better way to make your house smell amazing than a hot soup cooking in a dutch oven, warm banana bread baking, or roasting a chicken with herbs and lemon. Cooking for friends and family makes me my happiest self. I’ve grown into cooking, learning for years, and I have fallen in love with the process of creating a meal.
If you don’t know me, I am extremely particular and detail oriented. My friend teases me that I won’t just tell her I had breakfast, but I will describe the walk to the cafe, how I got a scooped out bagel with jalepeno jam and cream cheese, and continue on about the people I saw. My dad points out often that I’m like my grandmother in that it takes longer for me to tell a story than the actual event. There’s magic in the details, what can I say. Apparently, a lot!
When I’m in my kitchen I always set the tone with details. I believe in the power of intention, and by making my kitchen a cozy, inviting place while I’m in there, allows me to really enjoy what I’m doing. Music is required, and most likely a candle is lit, and probably a glass of wine is within arms length! I usually opt for Billie Holiday or Ray Charles on Pandora or something that reminds me of what previous generations would be listening to on a record. I can still remember my Meme listening to Elvis Presley in the kitchen, at a volume 100, but you get the idea. It gives me such a sense of calm, and fulfillment that only cooking provides me. Create your space in a way that’s meaningful to You. Home cooked food that’s been made by a happy person always tastes better!
I’ve made dozens of soups over the years. Each one has a time and a place, but the one I go to when I want to feel cozy and warm, is butternut squash. I mean, what’s not to love about this Winter vegetable? I make it a variety of ways, but I’ve recently created my favorite to date. It’s a blend of indian spices to add warmth and spice, classic spices to round out the flavor, and a touch of high quality maple syrup to add a hint of sweetness. Holy moly, does this deliver! It’s incredibly easy to make, it makes a lot, which is great for leftovers, and it’s budget friendly. Next time you have some girlfriends over, get the music going, pour some wine, and cook together!
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 inch chunks
1 sweet or yellow onion, cut into thin strips
4-6 cups vegetable stock, depending on how thin or thick you want your soup
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. coconut oil, divided
1 tsp. rosemary
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. hot curry powder
1 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg
1-2 tbsp. maple syrup
Preheat oven to 400. On a sheet tray mix 1 tbsp. coconut oil and all the dry spices, allowing the heat of your hands to soften the oil. It will create a paste like texture. Really work it in, so All of the squash is coated with the spices. Roast for about 30-40 minutes until the squash has some dark brown bits and is easily pierced with a fork. While that’s roasting, in your soup pot add 1 tbsp. coconut oil and your sliced onions over medium low heat. Making sure to stir often. Caramelizing onions takes patience! Be careful not to let the onions brown too quickly. You want them to get really soft and to caramelize slowly. They’ll become sweet and delicious. Once they’re caramelized, about 30-35 minutes, add garlic, and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Add 4 cups stock, and the roasted squash. Using an immersion blender, blend until silky smooth. At this point, assess if you need/want to add more stock. Once you have the right consistency, stir in the maple syrup, and taste for seasonings. In the picture, I garnished the soup with spicy roasted chickpeas and rosemary.
Enjoy this soup, enjoy your friends and family, and enjoy your Holiday season! Tag @Empowered.Body on Instagram.
XOXO
Jennifer
