I know I’m not alone when I say that I love Christmas. The change in our pace. The expectation. The traditions we continue and begin. The extra little sparkle our house holds with white lights and a tall tree. I love that we literally alter so much of our regular routines while we wait for Christmas. But sometimes. Sometimes those extra cookies we bake, places we celebrate, and parties we attend leave us feeling just a bit like Buddy the Elf.
We all love a little Christmas baking– but do you know what I love even more? BALANCE. Eating my veggies all the way through December so I don’t feel quite so guilty when indulging in a little home-baked goodness. But let’s be honest, I still really enjoy the comfort food.
Enter this easy-peasy Butternut Squash Soup. Throw these ingredients in your slow cooker and a few hours later, you have a warm, comforting dinner that goes really nicely with salad, grilled cheese or just a spoon! Eat it in front of Christmas tree and pretend it’s a cookie. Ha!
- 2 lbs. peeled, seeded, Butternut Squash (Costco sells this already done for you, yay, Costco!)
- 1 medium carrot or 10-12 baby carrots
- 3 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of chopped onion
- 1 tbs. olive oil
- 32oz. Chicken Broth (or Vegetable Broth)
- 1 tsp. dried sage
- 1½ tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tiny pinch of Red pepper flakes (no more than ⅛th of a tsp. unless you really like it spicy.)
- ½ tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 1-2 Tbs. Maple Syrup
- Place squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots in slow cooker.
- In a skillet, sautee onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent and just beginning to brown-- then add to the slow cooker with the squash.
- Add all remaining ingredients except the maple syrup, (broth through pepper and stir lightly.) Cook on Low for 5-6 hours, (more if needed.)
- Blend soup until smooth with a stick blender. (If you don't have one, use a regular blender but be careful! Fill only half full at a time and allow the steam to escape.)
- Add maple syrup and then taste for additional salt or pepper.
- At this point, you *can* add a little cream, but either way, it is delicious. Enjoy it topped it with toasted pumpkin seeds, delicious!
This soup would also be give to a friend or new mom. And it can easily be made vegetarian.
Note: If you have had the Panera Autumn Squash Soup, this is a smooth, creamy soup like that one but is not so sweet. The maple syrup gives it a slight sweetness and the Red pepper gives it a little spicy kick.
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