
Would you like something rich and creamy? How about Roasted Acorn Squash & Turnip Soup? Sounds good, huh?
I like creamy soups. In fact, I love creamy soups. Except sometimes I seem to like them even better when there’s no cream in them. Does that make any sense?
Sure sometimes a touch of cream will elevate a recipe. That’s because fat binds flavors together. It creates a sum that is greater than its parts. So I have no problem with cream. But there are other fats that do the job just as well as cream. Like butter. I have no problem with butter. In fact wasn’t it Julia Child who mockingly said: “If you are afraid of cream, just use butter.”? Or was it the other way around? Oh well. No matter. My point is– I am not one of those people who are afraid of fat, in any form. So if fat is called for in a recipe, and I believe it will make it better, I scream bring it on. No fear here.
In fact, I am far more afraid of chemically altered processed foods that are deemed “fat-free” than I am of any of the fats that God gave us. Because whenever I see “fat-free” printed in big bold chemical ink on my food I have to wonder what they replaced the fat with, and how the hell they got it out. Oh, and particularly– where in God’s name did they put it? But that’s a digression.
I wanted to talk about “health food” my way. It’s not a new concept but it has certainly fallen out of fashion.
Now I realize that many readers will think that I have no right to use the word “fat” or “cream” or “butter” when describing “health food”. Health food has rules, right? Not all of them are happy rules either. I am a different kind of “health food” blogger. I believe healthy eating starts in your soul and carries through to your brain. I believe happiness heals and that most of the well-being we appreciate comes from experiences that feed the soul. I believe happy people make happy (and reasonable) food choices. So when it comes to food, yep, I like real fat– because it makes me really happy. I don’t care how many calories you count, if your food doesn’t make you happy you will be emotionally overweight and overwrought– and it will show when you look in the mirror. Even if no one else can see it.
The flip side of this argument is foods that are particularly unhealthy will never satisfy your body. An unhealthy body leads to an unhealthy mind. Leading to all sorts of emotional turmoil, including an ongoing circular battle with poor food choices. Binge. Purge. Yes. No. Elation. Shame. Guilt. Sadness.
That’s where this rich and creamy Roasted Acorn Squash & Turnip Soup comes in. Sure there’s no cream in it, but you could add a tablespoon or two if it makes you happy. GREG
Roasted Acorn Squash & Turnip Soup serves 6 CLICK here for a printable recipe
- 1 (1 1/2 lb) acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
- 1 pn each, salt & white pepper, or as needed
- 5 T unsalted butter
- 2 leeks, cleaned, halved lengthwise and roughly chopped
- 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
- 1 carrot, roughly chopped
- 2 clv garlic, peeled & smashed
- 1 t sugar
- 1/2 lb turnips, peeled & roughly chopped
- 6 c chicken stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pn ground coriander
- 3 T brandy
- 1/4 c celery leaves, as garnish (optional)
Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Season the squash with salt and white pepper. Place 1/2 tablespoon butter into each cavity and place the squash halves on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until tender and caramelized for about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let it cool on the tray.
Melt the remaining butter in a medium soup pot set over medium heat. Add the leeks, celery, carrots, and garlic. Sprinkle the mixture with sugar. Cover, and cook for 10 minutes, until softened. Add the turnips, stock, bay leaf and coriander then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, season with salt and white pepper. Cover and cook another 20 minutes, until the turnips are very tender. Remove the bay leaf.
Scoop the flesh from the cooled squash halves straight into the soup pot. Using an immersion blender puree the mixture until very smooth, or use a standard blender working in batches if necessary. Return the soup to the soup pot (if using a standard blender) and add brandy. Bring the soup to a simmer and adjust the seasoning. Garnish with celery leaves. Serve warm in individual bowls.
Greg Henry writes the food blog Sippity Sup- Serious Fun Food, and contributes the Friday column on entertaining for The Back Burner at Key Ingredient. He’s active in the food blogging community, and a popular speaker at IFBC, Food Buzz Festival and Camp Blogaway. He’s led cooking demonstrations in Panama & Costa Rica, and has traveled as far and wide as Norway to promote culinary travel. He’s been featured in Food & Wine Magazine, Los Angeles Times, More Magazine, The Today Show Online and Saveur’s Best of the Web. Greg also co-hosts The Table Set podcast which can be downloaded on iTunes or at Homefries Podcast Network.
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sounds fabulous! i love peaches, bellinis, and rosemary — all rolled into one and super creative!
Oh, I am so longing for the return of summer and juicy peaches and apricots. Will definitely be trying this when summer does finally roll around again — love the idea of peaches flavoured with rosemary.
These look fantastic, Greg! More than a mimosa, better than a bellini??? I am ALL over this!
Yep, you hit the nail on the head (or was that your head on the nail? OUCH!). I like to use my peaches for BBQ sauces. I am lame at making cocktails.
In! In, in, in. This is brunch waiting to happen.
… in my hand right now? Excuse me, Greg, must dash!
I think with as busy as you’ve been, you totally deserve a pitcher of these peach rosemary sparklers! 🙂
Peaches, one of the best gifts of summer. I’ve never enjoyed them this way, though. I’ve been missing out!
peach + rosemary sounds heavenly
LL
confession — I totally have a peach problem going on in my kitchen right now! Somehow..I bought five pounds of them. And I’m going on vacation in a week. And that’s not to mention all of the nectarines, plums and cherries I ALSO have sitting on my counter, It’s a stone fruit invasion! I see many sparklers like this in my future. MANY. Why not kick off vacation a week early, right?
Looks really pretty in its vibrant color! So refreshing. This is a great treat for all the summer grill parties and events. Can’t wait to start making this!
Myfudo here…Normally we’d never put a shameless plug back to us, but we just launched our new site and we would love for you to be a part of it. I’d love to share our newest launch with you, I hope you don’t mind? Now that we are getting a new look…Myfudo is moving to a new domain http://www.yumgoggle.com This has been a project we have been working on for almost a year now. We just launched our new gallery submission site, and we are just thrilled. We’d be proud to have your work as part of our growing collection to continue to have a larger reach and further inspire all fellow food lovers out there! Please sign up and check us out (it’s free) http://www.yumgoggle.com/gallery
We look forward to seeing your wonderful pictures, as always.
p.s. We are hosting a Kitchen Aid Mixer Giveaway to celebrate our new Yumgoggle site, we hope you’ll participate =)
http://www.yumgoggle.com/macarons-food-photography-tips-tiramisu-macarons-a-kitchenaid-mixer-giveaway/
How have I lived this long without trying this drink? I can close my eyes and taste it. It looks so good in those photos!
That looks so, so, so, soooo good. I would love to sip on one of those beautiful drinks. I love the color, slight hint of rosemary and of course the peachiness!
Looks so refreshing… and you just can’t beat fresh peaches for a drink like this. Looking forward to your book… be sure to know when we can order!
Yes, yes, and YES. That is all.