Winter Squash Soup
Healthy Christmas Recipe
By Fitness and Freebies
Winter squash teams up with chicken broth, 1 percent milk, seasoned with rosemary, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, coriander crushed red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. Sour cream and rosemary sprigs make a nice garnish.
Recipe Ingredients
1 teaspoon butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
4 pounds winter squash, seeded and cubed
4 cups of chicken broth
2 cups 1 percent low fat milk
1 handful mint sprigs or rosemary
1 cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon whole peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon whole coriander seed
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Salt to taste
Sour cream for garnish
Mint or rosemary sprigs for garnish
Recipe Directions
Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook slowly over low heat until tender but not brown. (Keeping the pot covered will cause the onion to "sweat," creating moisture and cooking without burning.) Add squash and broth, and then heat the mixture to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until squash is tender.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the milk, with mint or rosemary, cloves, peppercorns, coriander, and pepper flakes, to boiling. Remove from heat and set aside. When squash is fork-tender, puree it in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return to heat. Pour the infused milk through a fine strainer into the pureed squash. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Heat through.
Serve with a garnish of mint sprigs and a dollop of sour cream.
Nutrition information per serving:
Recipe makes 6 servings
Calories: 135;
Protein: 8g;
Carbohydrates: 23g;
Fiber: 5g;
Fat: 3g;
Cholesterol: 5mg;
Sodium: 570mg
See also: Cooking Tip on Cooking Squash; Grilling Summer Squash
Share this Recipe
Christmas Lore:
Christmas was illegal in England from 1647-1660. This was enforced by the then leader Oliver Cromwell who believed it was immoral to hold celebrations on one of the holiest days of the year. The celebration of Christmas was therefore a criminal offence which could lead to an individual being arrested if he or she was found guilty of condoning any revelry during the period.
Christmas Fact
An average household in America will mail out 28 Christmas cards each year and see 28 eight cards return in their place.
