Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Butternut squash soup is one of my favourite things about fall. I got a huge butternut squash from the farmers market near my house and I knew right away I wanted to make soup with it. There are so many variations of butternut squash soup out there but I knew I wanted to add apples to mine (I still have a bunch from apple picking!). I also love the combination of ginger and butternut squash so I knew I would be adding some ginger to my soup. I roasted the butternut squash because that meant that I only had to cut it once. I hate hate hate cutting butternut squash! This was the perfect solution and it let me add flavour to the squash before adding it to the soup. The end result was a creamy soup that had a hint of sweetness from the apples but a good amount of spice from the ginger. It was really simple to make and I think you will really enjoy it!

Ingredients:

1 large butternut squash

2 tbs olive oil

rosemary

salt and peper

4 small-medium sized apples, peeled and chopped

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 tbs butter

1 tsp freshly graded ginger

3-4 cups water

1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Wash outside of butternut squash. Cut in half length wise. Scoop out seeds. Brush each half of butternut squash with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and rosemary. Place cut-side down on baking tray or in a baking dish. Bake for 45 minute or until tender.

2. While the butternut squash is roasting, peel and cut apples and carrots, set aside.

3. Chop onion.  In a large pot, melt the butter, add onions. Cook until transparent. About 4-5 minutes.

4.  Add carrots and apples to the pot. Add water until everything is just covered. (This took me about 3 cups). Simmer on medium heat until apples and carrots are tender.

5. When squash is done remove it from oven. Scoop out the flesh and discard the skin. Add the squash to the pot with the apples and the carrots. Simmer for about 5 minutes.

6. Using an emersion blender (or a regular blender in batches), blend soup until smooth.

7. Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream and stir to combine.

8. Enjoy!

Note: You can freeze the soup before adding the cream. It freezes well and will last for a couple of months in the freezer. When you are ready to eat it just defrost, bring up to a simmer and add the cream to the soup.

What is the one dish you look forward to every fall?

Jaclyn

Apple Pumpkin Bread

I have been wanting to make pumpkin bread for the longest time but I knew I should wait until Thanksgiving so I could use half of my 30oz can of pumpkin for pumpkin pie. Finally it was close enough to Thanksgiving that I could pull out the can of pumpkin I had sitting in my pantry for longer then I would like to admit. I was gathering all my ingredients when I glanced at this candle I had recently purchased from Bath and Body Works. I decided that it would be a good idea to incorporate some apples into my pumpkin bread because if they made a candle out of the two then hey it must be good right? Plus I have way more apples then I know what to do with since I went apple picking and you can only have so much apple pie. So off I went to the internet to find an apple pumpkin bread recipe. I found this one from Heather Homemade and liked the idea of the crunchy topping but decided to swap a few of the ingredients to really bring out the fall flavour. I am really happy with the way it turned out and it makes for a great breakfast or snack.  Oh and did I mention I made it all in one bowl. Yup! My kind of recipe!

I may have started eating this piece before I took the photo. Oops. 

Pumpkin Apple Bread

Adapted from Heather Homemade

 

For the Crunchy Sugar Topping

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

5 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened 

 

For the Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

4 large eggs

2 cups of pumpkin puree

1/2 cup apple sauce

1 cup sugar

1 cup of packed brown sugar

2 cups chopped apple ( I used a mix of the apples I picked)

 

For the topping, blend flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter in a small bowl with your finger tips, until mixture resembles coarse meal or sand. Set aside until ready to use.

Place oven rack in the middle of the oven. Heat to 350 degrees-F. Butter two 8.5 x 4.5 inch pans.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger. 

Lightly beat in the eggs. Whisk in pumpkin, apple sauce and sugar. Stir until just well combined. Fold in the apples. Divide batter between prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle half of the topping evenly across each loaf.

Bake until a wooden toothpick or skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 60-70 minutes. Cool loaves in pans on rack for 45 minutes, then turn out on rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.

The bread can be wrapped in plastic wrap and then foil, and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, or the freezer for up to one month.

Thankful

I have spent the past couple of hours baking multiple pies for Thanksgiving this weekend. Over the past week I have made three apple pies and a pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving is probably my favourite holiday. I love it even more now that I am away at school. It is usually the first time I come home after being back at school for the month and I love being able to see all of my friends and family. All the delicious food doesn't hurt.  I am thankful to be home, surrounded by all the people I love, enjoying wonderful food. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all you Canadians out there! 

What are you thankful for? 

Jaclyn

Apple Picking

Fall is one of my favourite seasons. I was so excited to go apple picking last year and I loved the farm that we visited but last year wasn't a great one for apples here in Ontario and we went very late in the season that there wasn't much left. This year I jumped on the chance to go apple picking earlier on in the season, so there was plenty of apples left on the trees. We went to a different farm since it was closer and they also offered U-Pick raspberries. Unfortunately there wasn't any U-Pick Raspberries offered that day but we got plenty of apples! I ended up taking home more apples then I know what to do with. So be prepared for a ton of apple posts in the near future (I'm sorry, unless you really like apples then You're Welcome).  

When we got to the stand we were asked if we wanted to pick a half bushel or a full bushel. We went with a half bushel and even then I didn't realize just how many apples it would be. But they are so fresh and delicious. I have been adding apples to everything from smoothies and salads to pies and crisps.  

 Outfit: Sweater, H&M. Jeans, Mavi. Boots, Steven Madden. 

Have you gone apple picking yet? What is your favourite apple recipe?

Jaclyn 

Top 5 iPad Apps

I recently got an ipad mini and I have been enjoying the number of apps that are available for it. I thought I would share some of my favourites here with you. I also love being able to sync my calendar from my computer to my ipad, the wireless sync feature is a great way to easily keep it updated.  I also really enjoy being able to quickly check my emails and avoid the hassle of turning on my computer.

Blitz Bejewelled - I am obsessed with this game. I cannot put it down. It is by far my favourite. I actually have to limit the amount that I allow myself to play it.

Twitter - I love checking twitter on my ipad. It's easy to scroll though and updates quickly. I am constantly on twitter now and love keeping up to date with everything.

Flipboard - this might be my favourite app yet. I love it. It is a simple and easy way to keep up to date about the things that I am interested in. I can quickly read headings and if they seem interesting then i can read the entire article. If you don't have this app you are seriously missing out.

Reminders - this came installed and I love it. I love being able to check things off. Plus I can simply sync it with my computer and keep lists current no matter what I a working on. Now I just need an iPhone and I will be all set. Haha.

iBooks - The mini is the perfect size for reading. Its nice and light. I didn't think I would like reading a book off of a screen but I actually use it all the time. Its is great on the go.

What are your favourite apps?
Jaclyn