La Crueset Dutch Ovens

DIRECTIONS:

Here I use a channel cutter to make a design in the top. This is optional You can
carve the base as well but be careful that you don't get too close to the inside
or the soup will leak out.

Here I make a mark where the lid lines up. This way you don't have to rotate the
lid a dozen times to find out where it matches up.

Peel the butternut squash and dice. I like to set the squash upright like this and cut
off the skin with my chef's knife. Some like to use a vegetable peeler.

Wash and chop the leeks like so. Make some cuts the long way then turn and cut into 1/2 inch slices.

Here is how I cube the squash and potatoes. It is all going to be pureed so it doesn't
matter too much. You can either use the Suppengrun for flavor or if you want to simplify it
just use the leeks.

I saute these in olive oil and butter till they soften a bit and add the stock, which will deglaze
the flavors on the bottom of the pan.

Now I fill the pumpkin with the vegetables and stock,
then put the lid on and bake at a low temperature( 275-300 degrees F for 2 hours or until the vegetables
are soft.

Remove the bay leaves and now we are ready to puree the vegetables and make
the soup creamy smooth.

I ladle most of the soup out to a bowl and scrape some of the cooked pumpkin
from the side of the walls. Not too much as I want the walls to be thick and strong
to hold the soup.

I add the soup back into the shell and use a hand held immersion blender to puree it.
An alternative is to puree it in a blender, or in small batches in a food processor.
Be careful when you puree hot soups in a blender. Be sure and keep a towel
and a hand on the top of the blender. Otherwise it may end up on your ceiling and walls.
I blend a long long time probably 5 -10 minutes till it is silky smooth. I love that texture.
Then I finish the soup with the salt, pepper and pepper sauce to taste. Add the cream
or 1/2 and 1/2 and mix.
I then return the soup to the pumpkin and put the lid on and back in the oven to
get back the heat it is lost and to hold it till I am ready to serve it.

Here I show the texture. It is smooth and flows off the ladle. A smooth pureed soup
is the perfect comfort food for me.

Lid on top waiting till everyone is ready

4

Time to Serve....

The Pumpkin Soup was a hit!

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