Butternut Squash-White Bean Soup

Yep, butternut squash again.  I'm just loving learning how to cook with this new food!


Thanks to the Cooking Light Complete Cookbook (2008), Crash Course enjoyed this soup on February 16th.


INGREDIENTS

3 bacon slices

1 cup chopped onion

2/3 cup chopped celery

3 garlic cloves, minced

4 cups, cubed peeled butternut squash (about 1 ½ pounds)

¼ dry white wine

4 cups chicken broth

1 tsp ground cumin

¼ tsp ground red pepper

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1/8 tsp cinnamon

¼ cup half & half*

1 tsp dried oregano**

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 (15 oz) cans Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained

Optional: 3T unsalted pumpkin seed kernels, toasted

*The recipe calls for ¼ c whipping cream instead of half & half.

**The recipe calls for  1 T fresh oregano instead of 1 tsp dried oregano

DIRECTIONS

1. Place bacon in a small oven-safe pan with sides.  Bake for about 20 minutes at 350° or until bacon is done.  Remove bacon from pan and pat dry with paper towels.   Add 2 tsp of drippings into a Dutch Oven over medium heat.  Crumble bacon & set aside.

2.  Add onion, celery & garlic to pan, cook 3 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. 

3.  Add squash; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4.  Add wine; cook until almost all liquid evaporates.

5.  Stir in broth, cumin, red pepper, cinnamon and cloves; bring to a boil.

6.  Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until squash is tender.

7.  Stir in cream, oregano, salt, black pepper, and beans; bring to a boil.

8.  Remove from heat & serve, topping with bacon and pumpkin seeds.

SERVINGS & WW INFO

Serves 6

8 WW points (or less)

Kneekole's Notes and Comments

*Great taste and pretty easy steps.  

*Dutch Oven = best kitchen tool investment!  Many recipes call for the use of a dutch oven, but many of them can suffice with a large frying pan  and a large saucepan, which is what I have been using for years.  I looked into getting a dutch oven, but since they were between $80 - $120+, I opted not to purchase ($100 for ONE pot??  I don't think so!  Not even with a 30% off coupon at Kohls!).  BUT! Thanks to Christmas Tree Hill, I was able to get a 3 1/2 quart dutch oven for only $30!  Giddy up!   I LOVE IT, because I can sauté and boil in the same pot!  How convenient!  Now I just have decide if I want to get a bigger one. :)