Before I share with you the recipe for an awesome Butternut Squash Soup I created last night, I want to let you in on some secrets about me.
I’m terrible at meal planing. So bad that usually when 6:00 rolls around I still don’t know what I’m going to make for dinner. Somehow, it usually works out.
As you read this blog, through time, you’ll learn I’m a throw in, taste, mix, throw in some more, and perfect until it’s yummy kind of cook. Sometimes I use recipes for a starter ideas and inspiration. And sometimes I just open the fridge and start cooking.
Last night it was the latter scenario. The butternut squash on my counter from Farmer Megan had been sitting there for a couple weeks. At about 5:30, after I squeezed in writing this post for Family Friendly Knoxville, all us Simmons girls went to work in the kitchen. It was an evening when everyone wanted to help!
For my Souper Fabulous Butternut Squash Creation, here’s what we threw in the pot (my new swanky Le Creuset pot I got for Christmas from this gift guide).
*We started with one sautéd onion, chopped and cooked in olive oil in our stock pot.
*Then I chopped up 2 butternut squashes and 2 small sized sweet potatoes. Both little girls wanted to help so we had an assembly line of me chopping, handing the pieces to my two-year-old and then she handed them to my five-year-old who put them in the hot pot. Their little feet shared one stool, which I always find delightful.
*As the squash and sweet potatoes were getting added to the pot I poured in 2 cups of vegetable broth, letting it all cook on medium heat.
*Then I added 1/2 cup of milk and two tablespoons of butter.
*That was followed by a few generous shakes of cumin, turmeric, curry, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
*Next either put your soup in a blender to puree, or use an immersion blender. I could, and do, rave on and on about my Bamix immersion blender. It makes soup making SO much easier!
*Continue to simmer until ready to eat.
Served alongside our soups were grill cheese sandwiches and corn. We are a huge grill cheese eating family – mainly because my kids love them.
On this night my seven-year-old wanted to take on the job of making the sandwiches. We use a panini maker to make hot sandwiches, veggie burgers and even sometimes to grill veggies. I couldn’t imagine our kitchen without it! To make the butter spreading easier, I melted the butter and gave it to my daughter to brush on the bread, add the cheese and handed the spatula over to her. She could not have been more thrilled with having been given this big kid task involving the sizzling hot panini maker!
I have to say cooking with kids isn’t alway easy. I mean, it can really slow things down when the squash has to pass through six hands before it hits the pot! However last night everyone loved being involved, from the first what’s for dinner question, to the setting and clearing of the table.
