Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

My friend and I met during the winter. On the many many dark, freezing cold, snow-filled evenings, we would run through puddles of slush into her car, blast the heat, and count down until the day when we would see the sun again. We fantasized sitting on a patio, sipping martinis and people watching all night.

Sunset time was one of our favorite lunchtime discussions. 5:46, 5:49, 5:53, 5:57, 6:01!!!! Summer WILL arrive!

Unfortunately, time flies and it's the season of the squash and pumpkin... again. The only thing I enjoy about the winter time is soup, sports, and the couch. So here I am, sharing one of my best soups with you-

Basically, I just roast this beastly thing, add some carrots, celery and onions, puree everything and add chicken stock. No rocket science involved. 

It got a little messy because I only had a magic bullet to puree the ingredients. I finished in like, 10 batches? No biggies. It just looked like Hurricane Irene came back to my kitchen, that's all. 

So warm and comforting.

Oh, and did I tell you that above-mentioned friend and I are re-uniting in South Beach to enjoy some much needed sunshine, shopping, spa treatments, and martinis? Because that's how much we hate the winter, and it hasn't even started yet. Can't wait!!!!

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Makes 3-4 servings

1 butternut squash, halved and core removed
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
1/4 cup carrot, finely chopped

Pinch of cinnamon

4 cups chicken stock
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. Drizzle squash with oil, salt and pepper. Roast for an hour, and scoop out the flesh when done.
3. Heat a large saucepan to medium-high, add olive oil and sautee chopped vegetables until slightly brown.
4. Add chicken stock, coriander, cinnamon, squash, salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Transfer mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to saucepan to keep warm until ready to serve. Add more stock if consistency is too thick.