sunday soup

i'm super excited to start a new series - sunday soup. given, it is monday night when i am posting this..but hey, sometimes life gets crazy and you have to shift your schedule a bit. sundays are the best for resting and spending time together. and to me, there's no better day to cozy up by a fire, soup in hand. so today, i'm sharing with you some butternut squash and apple soup. i've tried a lot of different butternut squash recipes and couldn't decide which route i liked best - sweet or savory. i settled on sweet, and put together this little recipe.

the first time i made the soup, though, my husband asked me if we were eating warm applesauce for dinner... ha! kids and husbands...they always tell you what they really think :) but don't worry, i made some adjustments.

butternut squash and apple soup

• 4 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
• 1 apple [i used honey crisp], peeled and chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• pinch of cloves
• 1 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1/4 cup cream
• salt and pepper, to taste

melt the butter on medium heat in a dutch oven. add the onions and cook on low heat until soft and translucent. add the garlic and cook until slightly browned. next add the butternut squash and apple. pour in the vegetable stock and apple cider. bring to a boil. cover, and reduce to a simmer. let simmer for about 30-45 minutes, until squash is soft. add the spices and salt and pepper. transfer the soup, in batches, to a food processor or blender. blend until completely smooth and creamy. return to heat and add the maple syrup and cream. taste, and add more salt and pepper, if needed.

we love ours served alongside a grilled cheese.

enjoy!