Autumn Squash Soup With Puff Pastry Food

PANERA AUTUMN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F and line a sheet pan with foil or parchment paper. Spread the squash cubes on the pan and roast for 15 minutes, or until the edges of the cubes are light brown. Remove from the oven and let cool a bit.

SQUASH PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425˚. Brush a 24-cup mini-muffin pan (preferably nonstick) with olive oil. Evenly sprinkle the sugar on the bottom of each cup. Unfold the puff pastry on a work surface and cut into 24 equal squares with a sharp knife.
• Toss the squash with the olive oil, rosemary, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a bowl. Place 1 piece in each muffin cup (it's OK if some of the squash pieces extend above the top of the cups). Press about 1/2 teaspoon cheese on top of each squash cube. Cover each with a piece of puff pastry, tucking the edges into the muffin cups.
• Bake until the pastry is golden and puffed, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then remove from the pan. Serve squash-side up.

AUTUMN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Spread butternut squash cubes onto a baking sheet; season with 1 teaspoon salt and cinnamon.
• Roast squash in preheated oven until fork-tender, about 30 minutes.
• Melt coconut oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir curry powder and a few dashes salt into the oil. Saute apple and onion in the seasoned coconut oil until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Pour vegetable broth and almond milk into the pot; add butternut squash and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer about 20 minutes; season with salt.
• Pour soup into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid in place; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until smooth.

AUTUMN SQUASH SOUP WITH PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the squash half, cut side down, in a pie tin or small baking dish with 1/2 inch of water. Bake, uncovered, until the flesh can be easily pierced with the tip of a paring knife, about 40 minutes, adding a little more water if necessary. When cool, scoop the flesh out of the skin. You should have about 1 cup.
• Pierce the sweet potato in several places with a fork. Place it in a pie tin or on a baking sheet and bake alongside the squash until tender when pierced, about 1 hour. When cool enough to handle, scoop the flesh out of the skin. You should have about 1 cup.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the brandy and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to burn off the alcohol. Add the squash, sweet potato, ginger, cinnamon, and stock. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for about 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
• In a blender or food processor, puree the contents of the pot until smooth. Pour into a clean pot. Whisk in the cream. Thin with additional stock if needed to achieve a pleasing soup consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Let cool to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the puff pastry to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut 6 rounds, each 2 inches larger in diameter than the top of the soup bowl (for a 5-inch bowl, cut a 7-inch round). To guide you, invert a bowl onto the flattened pastry and cut around it. You can gather and reroll the scraps once. Put the rounds on a baking sheet and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Divide the soup among 6 ovenproof bowls. Brush the rim of each bowl with egg wash. Cover with a round of pastry and press the pastry firmly around the sides so the top is taut, like a drum. Make sure there are no cracks in the pastry. Brush the tops lightly with egg wash.
• Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Enjoy with Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Reserve or another full-bodied, oak-aged white wine.

SAVORY BUTTERNUT SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Put oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat if onions are browning too quickly.
• Transfer onions to a large bowl. Add squash cubes, kale, sage, thyme and garlic. Season with salt and red-pepper flakes, and toss well to coat.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll the puff pastry rounds to 12 inches in diameter (or roll and trim pastry rectangles to achieve two 12-inch rounds). Line a 10-inch pie pan or other shallow round baking dish with one 12-inch round of pastry. Add squash filling, piling it high. Sprinkle with provolone and pecorino. Lay the remaining pastry round over filling and crimp edges to seal. Paint the top of pie with beaten egg.
• Place the pie on a rimmed baking sheet to catch drips. Transfer to oven, and bake for about 1 hour, until pastry is nicely browned and squash is soft when probed with a paring knife. (Start checking at the half-hour mark and the 45-minute mark to make sure the pastry isn't browning too quickly. Tent with foil, if so.) Allow to rest at least 10 to 15 minutes before cutting into large wedges and serving.

COPYCAT AUTUMN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent and soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add pumpkin, squash, apple juice, and broth. Stir well to combine. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add honey, sugar, curry powder, and salt. Cook another 10 minutes before adding cream. Heat until soup is warmed through, another 2 minutes. Serve immediately.