Pumpkin Soup

Yesterday I read a fun book to my student that we picked up at the library this week called, "Pumpkin Fiesta" by Caryn Yacowitz.  It is a super cute story about Old Juana and Foolish Fernando that teaches a lesson in hard work.  At the end of the story I was pleasantly surprised to find "Old Juana's Recipe for Pumpkin Soup in a Pumpkin."  I wanted to wait until I tried it out to share it with you, but I was afraid of when that might actually be!  Putting it in a post will be a great motivator.  Although now I'm thinking this would be quite a fun lunch for my student and I.  It sounds delicious!



Ingredients:



6 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth

4-5 cups pared pumpkin, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 cup thinly sliced onion

2 cloves minced garlic

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

5 peppercorns

1/2 cup low-fat milk, warmed

1 Tbsp freshly chopped parsley

1/8 cup toasted, shelled pumpkin seeds

Directions:

*Heat first 6 ingredients in a covered saucepan until boiling.

*Reduce heat; simmer for 40 minutes.

*Transfer pumpkin mixture to a large bowl.

*In a blender or food processor puree the pumpkin mixture in batches.

*Return pureed mixture to saucepan.

*Heat to boiling; redue heat.

*Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

*Stir warmed milk into soup.  Serve hot in a hollowed-out pumpkin that has been warmed 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Garnish with parsley and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Serves 8.

Another cute children's book that includes a yummy recipe at the end is, "Pumpkin Soup," by Helen Cooper.  What a fun Fall activity to share with kids!