Butternut Squash Soup

Here is the recipe for my soup. I'll be waiting for every one's recipes and pictures.

Love you all!

Butternut squash soup

2lbs Butternut or acorn squash
1 Tablespoon Butter
2-3 apples (I like green ones, They stay together best) 
1 1/2 cup onion chopped
1/2 cup celery
1 bay leaf
2 tsp Curry powder or 1 TB paste (I used red paste, but have used green powder with good results 
2-3 Garlic cloves
5 cups broth
1/8 tsp Salt
1/2 cup cheese (I used medium cheddar) 
cooked and crumbled bacon

Half the squash and scoop out the seeds. Salt and pepper both halves. Cook in the oven at 350 for about an hour, or the micro, covered for 1/2 hour or when the thickest part is soft. (I like it a little more on the firm side, so when I add it to the soup it doesn't disintegrate) 

While that is cooking saute all the rest of the ingredients except the broth and bay leaf and cheese. Once they are fragrant (about 5-10 min) add the broth and the bay leaf. When the squash is done score it with a knife (in squares, so when you scoop it out it will come out in chunks) scoop it out and add it to the soup. cook for a few more minutes to thicken the soup.

Cube the cheese and put in a bowl. (I like to add it to the bowls of soup individually, otherwise it makes a nice cheese mess). Serve with bacon.

Heather's Tomato and Artichoke Tortellini

1 (9 oz.) pkg. cheese tortellini or ravioli
1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp. olive oil
½ c. chopped green onion
1 (6.5 oz.) jar marinated artichokes
3 cloves crushed garlic
½ c. seeded Kalamata olives, sliced in half
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese

Cook ravioli. While pasta is cooking, prepare sauce. In a large nonstick skillet, heat olive oil over a med. heat. Add tomatoes, artichokes, green onions, olives, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are warmed through. Add drained pasta to skillet and combined with sauce. You don’t need to cook it any longer, just make sure all is warm and combined. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Massaged Kale and Craisin Salad with Feta

Strange name, looks like seaweed, surprisingly delicious.

Find it here.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Here is the recipe from our Witches Tea today! Thanks for coming and for bringing all the yummy food! It's always good to get together with you guys!!

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

2 1/2-3 lbs butternut squash, cut into chunks (i just buy it from costco already diced! Much easier!)
1 1/2 cups apple cider (not juice)
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cinnamon sticks, cut in half crosswise
2 T melted butter
1 cup diced onion
2 T butter
4 cups chicken broth
dash of ground ginger
dash of nutmeg
1/2 cup heavy cream
salt, to taste

In a bowl, mix apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks and melted butter. Put the squash into a 9x13 pan. Pour mixture over squash. Cover tightly with foil and cook at 450 for 1 hour or until squash is very tender.

Meanwhile, cook diced onion in a large saucepan in the 2 tablespoons of butter. When onion is very tender, add chicken broth; bring to a boil; remove from heat and set aside. When squash is very tender, remove from oven. Remove cinnamon sticks. With a slotted spoon, transfer the squash to the chicken broth and onion mixture. Add about 1/4 cup of the roasting pan juices to the saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Working in about 4 batches, puree the squash mixture in a blender; return to the saucepan. Stir in the ginger and nutmeg and the heavy cream, along with salt, to taste. Heat through.

Makes about 8 cups of soup.

Recipes from Recent Derby Girls Lunch

Hey, everybody!!  You guys asked me to type up the recipes for the soups we had last week.  I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Tortellini and Zucchini Soup

2 T olive oil
2 large carrots, finely chopped
1 large onion, diced
1 T minced garlic
1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
2 14 oz cans vegetable broth
2 medium zucchini, diced
9 oz. (about 2 cups) fresh or frozen tortellini
2 plum tomatoes, diced

Heat oil in large pot.  Add carrots and onion, stir and cook until the onion is soft and just beginning to brown.  Stir in garlic and rosemary and cook about 1 minute.  Stir in broth and zucchini, bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until zucchini starts to soften, about 3 minutes.  Add tortellini and tomatoes and simmer until the tortellini are plump and the tomatoes are beginning to break down, 6 to 10 minutes.  Serve.



Artichoke Soup


2 cans artichoke hearts, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 stalk of celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 qt. chicken broth
1 cup half and half
butter
season to taste


Saute green onions, celery, and garlic in 2 TBSP butter.  Add seasonings and broth.  Simmer 15 to 20 minutes.  Add artichoke hearts and simmer 10 minutes.  Add half and half and mix well.  Simmer 5 to 10 minutes and the soup is ready. 

Derby Makeover...

Hi Lovely Ladies,

As you can see our website is getting a little updating and I need your help. Can everyone except the Down girls send me a picture of yourself looking "Derby-ish" for the sidebar?

Thanks!

XOXO

Derbies and Dudes!

This post is for all you Derby girls who couldn't join us last week! Last Monday, because Cheryl took the time to get us all to look at our calendars and commit to a meeting, the Derby girls met in Salt Lake for lunch and a quick catch up session. We were even lucky enough to get some Dudes to join us! Don't worry, they have Derby blood, but since they aren't girls, they are Derby Dudes (thank Heather for that cool name!) We met at a deli called Tony Caputo's and had lunch...

We had to take two pictures, because we forgot to bring along a photographer so all of us could be in the pictures!

Sandwiches and pasta, yum!

We admired Isaac's stitches and heard his story and caught up on what everyone has been doing this summer. We walked through grocery store of Italian imported foods and cheese and then moved outside. We walked across the parking lot to "Waffles and Frites" and enjoyed scrumptious belgian waffles for dessert.

Strawberries and creme fraiche!

Chocolate filled!

Once we were stuffed, we walked across the street to Pioneer Park and it began to pour rain, so we stood under the trees to finish visiting! Everyone had places to go and people to see, so we went our separate ways after agreeing on our next meeting...a Derby Girls and Dudes (this time husband dudes) Date night at the Scera Shell to see the play "Aida". Funny thing, we all know the guy playing the lead, so it seems like a perfect place to meet!