No. 1 : Quick Recipe
Warm and Savory Pumpkin Soup
- 2 TB Olive Oil
- 2 TB Unsalted Butter
- 2 Large Yellow Onions, chopped
- 1 Large Red Pepper, chopped
- 3 Cloves Garlic, grated
- ¼ Tsp Crushed Red Pepper
- ¼ Tsp Cayenne
- *1 TB Garam Masala
- ½ Tsp Ground Coriander
- 1 Tsp Turmeric
- 3 (15 oz) Cans Pumpkin
- 5 Cups Chicken or Veg Broth
- 2 Cups Coconut Milk
- 2 TB Maple Syrup
- **½ Cup Nonfat Greek Yogurt, with 1 TB Lemon Juice stirred in
- Roasted and Salted Pumpkin Seeds
Step One
Melt butter and oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and pepper and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and spices and stir for a minute more.
Step Two
Stir in the pumpkin and the broth. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step Three
Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. Add the maple syrup and coconut milk and cook and stir over low heat until warm. Remove from the heat, place in the bowls and swirl in the yogurt – top with the pumpkin seeds.
No. 2 : Kitchen Scoop
**I love the tang of greek yogurt topping soups and casseroles. To make your yogurt even more delicious – stir in some freshly squeezed lemon juice
No. 3 : Clever Idea
Garam Masala is a spice I love to have on hand. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s a spice blend from India, full of flavor from coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, black pepper and more. I use it whenever we’re looking for a warm spicy flavor that’s not hot. You can find it in the spice aisle of your grocery store.
No. 4 : Wine FIND of the Week
Valde Lacierva
Rioja Spain
About $19
Love a Pumpkin Spice Latte? Then you’ll love a Rioja from Spain as well. Aromas like sweet and savory spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and allspice and flavors of earth, dark fruits and berries make it a perfect match for foods with lots of warm baking spices like garam masala, cinnamon, allspice, cardamom and nutmeg. Medium-weight and well-balanced, Rioja wines are easy to find and oh-so-delicious with fall dishes and holiday foods. Buy a “Crianza” or young Rioja for veggie based dishes like this week’s soup, a “Riserva “ or “Gran Riserva” for heartier meat based fare.