Today is about comfort and finding a wonderful home in this new season of Fall.
Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time on my own. This is not for lack of a wonderful set of friends and family. This is because I’m trying to get back to center. It’s been a pretty tumultuous past few weeks, and accepting new ups and downs has really put me in a wonderful spot – with time to think.
I’m not being rushed and I’m being gifted with many wonderful people’s time and patience and advice as I find my way. That sounds a little dramatic right. I’m not dying, I’m not in the grips of anything. But sometimes one needs a little “sit on the floor in some yoga position” and breathing room in order to get back up and reset a little.
I’m doing that. I don’t feel alone. Or scared. Or anxious. No worry or persistence of sadness exist. I’m simply getting a few internal to-do list pieces done so that I can get back on the road to enjoying things even better. I think every now and again we have to stop and reset. I’m actually feeling happier and more energized by all the reflections that have been taking place and taking stock in my life shows me how.many.wonderful blessings I’m surrounded with.
I have started to learn a new skill over the past month or so – taking what normally looks like a big fat grey cloud and turning it into sunshine. I’m getting extremely good at it. I’ve had to take my house off the market, take stock in my finances, consider life changes, take on new relationship changes, take on new friends and release myself from old ones. So many changes at once, none of them utterly life killing, but with my newfound good natured ability to relax, I’m looking forward to successes in my future – maybe even life changing surprises.
Maybe I’m getting a little pre-emptive on the “Thanksgiving” of the season, but if you know me and you’re reading this (or if you don’t know me, because I love you too), thank you for being in my life. Thank you for spending your time reading the ramblings of what I have to say. You are an important person who could be spending precious moments elsewhere, and whether in person or virtually, you are spending them with me and for that I am grateful.
So take this soup as my hug of comfort – or my mug of comfort really. It’s wonderfully soothing heat of spices coupled with the fall vegetables we all know and love leaves the soup slurper into a wonderful rich world of autumn and the changing of the leaves. While I go through by own personal leaf change, I hope you find yourself growing into new life and the wonderful times ahead.
Squashtastic Pumpkin Bisque
8 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups diced onion
½ C diced celery
1 1/2 C honeycrisp apples, chopped
2 T. Madras Curry powder
3 C roasted and mashed butternut squash
1 can of pumpkin
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup apple nectar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 T. fresh sage, minced
½ t. ground nutmeg
Salt and pepper
Melt half of the butter in a skillet and sauté onion, celery and carrots until they are soft and translucent. Add curry powder and stir through.
Meanwhile, in a large stock pot, melt the remaining butter with the squash and stir for a few minutes for it to mash and become more velvety and smooth – as if you were making mashed potatoes. Add can of pumpkin and continue to stir until mixture is fully incorporated. Then add softened veggies, nutmeg and sage stir until spices mixed through.
Finally add in apple nectar and chicken broth and using a stick blender, blend soup until it’s creamy all the way through. Right before serving, dribble heavy cream, mixing only “half heartedly” for a ribbon-y effect. Serve immediately, garnish with sage, or even pecans or bacon.
Enjoy this soup. With yourself. With your dog. With your love. With your family. Just enjoy the moments and drink them in.
Living Aloud Allowed 
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