Jarin Inspired Butternut Squash Soup
Jarin is the steward at IstaWeyr on PernMUSH. Last week I was thinking about making some butternut squash soup and he happened to mention that he had just made some with apples and pears. "Gives it some sweetness" - Great idea, so I made some last night.

1 Butternut Squash
1 Bosc Pear - cubed
1 Jonagold Apple - cubed
1/8 C Brown Sugar
1/4 C Water
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
1/4 t Five Spice Powder
Salt and Pepper
1 Pint Half and Half

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Make about 4 puncture slices in the butternut squash and then microwave for 20 minutes.

At the same time put apples, pears and spices in a deep sauce pan and simmer while the squash is cooking. Stir once in a while and mash as they get soft. When the squash is almost done puree the fruit mixture.

Scoop out the seeds of the butternut squash and then scoop the flesh out and put in the pot. Simmer and mix together, start adding the cream and simmer until hot.

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This makes a fairly thick soup. It was pretty good, just depends on how thick you want it. Another option would be to thin it more with water and then put the cream in at the very end, once it is thin enough.

Served it with bread and salad. If you thin it and puree it till very smooth it would be good served barely warm or even chilled as an appetizer rather than a main entree.

- posted by James @ 7:49 PM