Lowfat Acorn Squash Soup With Roasted Garlic Food

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Put squash into a baking dish with the cut side down. Pour enough water into the baking dish to cover the bottom.
• Bake in preheated oven until the flesh of the squash is easily pricked with a fork, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool until squash can be handled. Scoop flesh into a bowl and set aside.
• Melt butter in a pot over medium-high heat. Cook onion, carrot, and garlic in melted butter until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour chicken stock into the pot; add the squash.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
• Pour mixture into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid down; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until smooth and return to pot.
• Stir half-and-half, nutmeg, and cinnamon through the blended soup; season with salt and pepper. Thin the soup with water if desired.

ACORN SQUASH WITH ROASTED GARLIC CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F Using a sharp knife, cut the squash in half lengthwise. Using a sturdy spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibrous membranes.
• Rub squash halves lightly with half the oil and season with salt, pepper and a sprinkling of brown sugar. Place on a baking sheet. Use the remaining oil to coat the whole garlic bulb. Place it on the tray with the squash.
• Bake the squash for 30 minutes. Remove and cool to room temperature.
• Bake the garlic for an hour or until very soft. Remove and cool. Cut the garlic in half and squeeze out the soft cooked garlic into a bowl. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a sauce pan, bring the milk to a simmer. Whisk the eggs and garlic together. Gradually whisk the hot milk into the eggs. Season with the salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Prepare a baking dish that will hold all four halves of squash. Pour one cup of water into the bottom. Cut a small sliver off the bottom of each squash to stabilize it in the baking dish.Place the squash in the baking dish, in the water.
• Pour enough egg mixture into the halved squash to fill the cavity to a half inch from the top. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until custard is firm. Remove from the oven and serve warm. Enjoy!

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH SOUP WITH ROSEMARY AND GARLIC

Steps:

• If you don't have any pre-roasted Thanksgiving leftovers --
• Halve and scoop out the innards of 2 medium to large Acorn Squash. Roast them, cut side down in a 400 degree oven for about 45min or until tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from oven and allow to cool. When cool scoop out flesh and set aside.
• Heat the ghee or oil in a deep sauce pan on medium heat. When warm add the onions, 4 cloves of garlic, rosemary, thyme, and salt.
• Cook gently until the onions are translucent and just beginning to caramelize(about 8-10 minutes).
• At this stage add your scooped out squash and gently mash it with a wooden spoon until it is soft and broken up and entirely incorporated with the onion, garlic and herbs.
• Cook this mixture over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until squash is bubbling. Add the other two cloves of garlic, the broth and the milk.
• Gently mix all. If it is too thick add a little more milk and adjust seasonings.
• Allow this to gently simmer for about 5-8 minutes.
• Turn off the heat.
• Puree approximately half of the soup in a blender until smooth and add back to the pot. Mix thouroughly.
• Serve piping hot with little cubes of gruyere scattered over the top.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, ROASTED GARLIC & SAGE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, sauté the onion in half of the butter until caramelized, about 20 minutes.
• Add squash, roasted garlic cloves, sage & chicken stock.
• Simmer until squash is tender.
• Puree with an immersion blender or in a food processor.
• Add cream and season with salt & pepper.
• Garnish with additional sage leaves fried in 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Enjoy!