Today was extremely stormy and made for the perfect day for some good homemade soup. Rather than do something traditional I wanted to switch it up a little. I love butternut squash, love sweet potatoes and who doesn't love some smokey bacon?! I just started tossing some ingredients together...the outcome was phenomenal! I should have snapped more pictures and a better end result, but honestly no photo would do your taste buds justice. Just got make yourself a pot :)
Ingredients:
4 slices thick smoked bacon chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup minced shallots
1 cup diced multi colored carrots
5 celery stalks diced
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp ground giner
1/2 tsp nutmeg
10 turns of a fresh pepper grinder
32 ounces chicken broth
32 ounces vegetable broth
6 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
1 large sweet potato (or yam)
1 large fuji apple
Start but heating a large stock pot on medium heat, add your bacon. Once your bacon begins to create grease add your shallots. Stir to combine, allow to simmer for 1 minute. Add your carrots and celery, stir to combine and allow to simmer for 3 minutes. Add all of your spices and stir to combine. Allow your spices to really penetrate your ingredients at this point continue stirring as to keep your pot from burning, about 5 minutes. Add in your broths and then add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a rolling boil and allow the soup to boil for 3-5 minutes. Turn your heat down to a simmer and allow to simmer on the stove top for roughly an hour. Your squash and potato should be very soft. You will need an emulsion blender once your soup is finished (you may also use a blender, but allow ingredients to cool before loading). Puree all ingredients together. Serve with a dollop of creamy goat cheese or crumbled goat cheese.
