Tuesday, November 23, 2010

HE WON'T EAT MY SOUP!



photo courtesy of The Fresh Market

He...My Husband...will not eat my soup!  Unfortunately, this is true...he won't eat this one!  "Winter Squash Soup with Chipotle Peppers and Cream"! 

I don't know if he has an aversion to squash necessarily, because he will eat my spaghetti squash (as long as I smother it in marinara, or better yet, meat sauce).  He just took one look at this beautiful pot of soup and scrunched up his cute nose, shook his head, and veered in the opposite direction. 


Well, I loved it....and since I had an entire pot to myself, I also figured out another way to use it.  The first night, I had a second helping, but the second night I decided to make a pasta sauce out of the remainder by adding parmesan and a splash of white wine, just a touch more garlic...and voila!  Another winning dinner for me! 

You might ask....what did your poor husband eat?  Well, let's just say the deli turkey and the extra sourdough bread I bought came in handy for a couple of days! 

Actually...here's the disclaimer!  I'm very fortunate to have a husband that will eat "practically" everything I put before him.  He usually praises my cooking.  I used to think he only complimented it to trick me into thinking I was a good cook; therefore wanting to spend even more time in the kitchen.  Since it's just the two of us, and most cooks are their own worst critics, I guess the verdict is still out on that one!  :) 

I found this beautiful soup recipe in "The Fresh Market Grocery" magazine. They often have unique recipes and the photo grabbed me!  I changed it up just a bit and made it my own.  Here is their original recipe and I will highlight the little changes I made: 

But first...some of you know me well enough by now...  :-)

He won’t eat my soup!

Husband hates squash
Won’t eat my soup,
Says it looks like slimy goop -
His tastes are unrefined...
Diet pop and chips for him,
I like cheese and wine!

I want to try to teach him
Everything I know...
Chance of this is really slim,
I learned long ago -

Old dog won’t learn new tricks,
Still hanging onto youth,
Teen-age snacks are his kicks,
He will not eat my soup!

Like a gas tank running on empty,
He’s running on fumes…
His habits are too hard to break…
All the junk he consumes!

He’ll break open the tums before he hits the sheets,
tossing and turning...esophagus burning...
From his tasty evening treats!

I guess I'll pick my battles,
This seems to be a loss,
I'll bite my lip when he eats that dip,
'Cuz it’s clear I’m not his boss!                                                        

I think that if I show him,
By example he might see
That healthy eats are not so bad,
They seem to work for me!

But even though I try…
I’m still thrown for a loop…
He shakes his head and walks away…
He will not eat my soup!

~ written by Lorraine Brown (copyright 2010) ~

 Winter Squash Soup with Chipotle Peppers and Cream


1 medium butternut squash                                                      
1 medium acorn squash
4 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 carrots, coarsely chopped
2 ribs of celery, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
3 garlic cloves, fresh, minced (I'm a garlic-aholic, so I used 4 cloves)
6 cups vegetable Broth (I substituted chicken broth - just my preference)
3/4 tsp. chipotle seasoning or cayenne pepper/ red pepper flakes (I used cayenne because that's what I had)
8 oz. whipping cream (I substituted half n half - just a little lighter)
Salt and pepper to taste

Toppings:

Small tub of sour cream (I always use fat free sour cream...I can't tell the difference)
3 TBSP. fresh cilantro, chopped
1 small jar/can chipotle peppers in adobo

Steps:
Preheat oven to 400. Cut butternut and acorn squash in half lengthwise.


Use 2 TBSP of olive oil to coat insides of squash.

Lay face down on baking sheet (not you...the squash!)

and bake (the squash) in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes
or until tender.



Use remaining olive oil to saute carrots, celery and onion in a medium sized stock pot until tender. Add garlic, salt and pepper and chipotle seasoning, saute an additional 2-3 minutes.


Remove squash from oven and let cool. ( The squash can be cooked and cooled overnight or well in advance of the soup preparation. )


Scoop meat from squash and add to pot with vegetables.


Add broth, bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. When vegetables are very
tender...
use an
 immersion blender
 or
food processor to puree the soup.

  
Add whipping cream (or half n half) to the pureed soup, stir to blend and return to heat until ready to serve.

Place the toppings in small serving bowls on the table and allow guests to garnish their soup.



these little cabbage bowls were my mom's and I love having them!



****To make the beautiful pumpkin soup bowls as in the fresh market photo...carefully cut off the top, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and strings, and use a paring knife to scoop out the flesh all around. Pan sear the edges for a rustic look. Be sure to reserve the pumpkin meat for a homemade pie! ****

 I served it with fresh, warm sourdough bread (thankfully by husband did leave some bread for me)! I'll definitely make it again....oh, and the pasta sauce I made the next day was also a comforting dish!

For the parmesan butternut pasta sauce:   Simply add a splash of white wine to the soup and simmer over medium heat; add grated parmesan cheese and stir until bubbly and thickened!  Ladle over your favorite pasta, sprinkle with fresh, shaved parmesan and serve!  I love this with campanelle (the cone shape of the pasta traps the sauce and pine nuts inside)!  







10 comments:

mangiabella said...

oh my, your husband and my husband have MUCH in common!! haha!! - my husband eats for survival, whereas I eat for pleasure...if I made this soup, he would eat a sandwich and chips, for certain! haha!! I could so relate to this hilarious poem of yours....truly. This soup is just beautiful, and this pasta sauce sounds just heavenly - guess we'll have to make a ladies getaway and this will have to be one of the entrees!!!

Jacqui' said...

Such a funny post!!! I loved this. I'll eat your soup cuz it looks and sounds fabulous.

Amy said...

Your winter squash soup looks beautiful and yummy! I really want to try out your recipe! My husband doesn't eat many things, too. I can imagine this soup would be one of them if I make it! LOL Oh well, you're so right, pick and choose your battles! :) Lovely poem!

Toyin O. said...

Hi Lorraine, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. This is so cute; I love the poem about your husband. Keep teaching him by example, he may just pick up on your good habits one of these days. At least, he loves most of your cooking:) Thanks for sharing the recipe, sounds yummy.

I just also want to thank you for visiting my blog and your gracious comment. Have a blessed week. Hugs:)

Toyin

Chef Dennis Littley said...

my wife is the same way, she loves my cooking but if its a little different forget it! she was all set to eat sweet potatoes for thanksgiving but when I told her it was butternut squash she didn't touch them. oh well....Your soup does look delicious!
Cheers
Dennis

Anonymous said...

I would totally eat this soup and looking at it makes me hungry, tell your husband I'll take his portion,lol
But without his defiance we wouldn't get to read that great poem:))

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I don't have time to read today, limited service in Las Vegas. Thanks for stopping over and very nice to meet you. Your recipe sounds awesome and I love the flag/sky photo.

maurie@GraciousInteriors.blogspot.com said...

Wow, this sounds and looks delicious! I love soup, but alas, my husband is like yours. His idea of supper/dinner is meat and potatoes. The only soups he'll eat for his main meal are chili or stew. But, I would eat soup every evening in the winter. Your pictures are fabulous. Your poem brought chuckles...and I love the idea for the soup's regeneration over pasta. Great post!

Toyin O. said...

Hey Lorraine,

Hope you are having a good week so far and it is not too cold where you are. It is freezing in NY; anyway, I just want to thank you for your visit and gracious comment. Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Anonymous said...

That soup looks and sounds amazing Lorraine! You are a woman of many talents. I hope Greg realizes on a daily and hourly basis how amazing you are! You go girl, you make our gender proud!

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