A Happy and Healthy New Year

Welcome to 2015 in KilKenney Kitchen! The holidays are over and it seems like the real world begins anew this morning. The kids are back in school, everyone is heading to work and we’ve had time to mull over those lofty New Year’s resolutions that sounded so good on New Year’s Eve.

For the first time in years, I did not make a resolution to go on a diet in 2015. I certainly indulged over the holidays and am looking forward to lighter eating in the new year, but I decided that I’m too old to make empty promises to myself.

Rather, I resolved to align with the KilKenney Kitchen tagline – “Where good food meets real life.” I will create, cook and share excellent recipes for healthy, delicious food. I will enjoy every minute of research, experimentation, writing about and eating that healthy food. I will continue to incorporate exercise into my life, but only in ways that make both my mind and body feel good. And I will try hard to roll with the “real life” bumps in the road that show up in my work, in my kitchen and seemingly everywhere else.

To start the ball rolling in January, I will post a variety of light and delicious soups and salads. As always, the recipes will be easy to follow and will result in fantastic meals for you, your family and your friends.

I am excited to begin the month with my Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger. I love the amazing smell a steaming pot of this soup brings to the kitchen , and I think you will too. This rich, flavorful, silky soup can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen, and easily becomes vegetarian or vegan.

I am thrilled that you continue to take this journey with me and I want to hear your thoughts, ideas and resolutions as you pursue your happy and healthy new year.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger

This light, luxurious soup is perfect for those long winter nights. The ginger gives it a rich flavor and the touch of cream at the end makes for a smooth, silky bowl of deliciousness

Servings people

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 1

Total Time 2 10

Ingredients

2 large butternut squash or 4 cups peeled, cubed butternut squash
2 small apples
1 large Onion
2 tsp grated fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ground ginger powder
2 tbsp maple syrup or 1 tbsp honey or sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cups half & half optional
4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
Cut the squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds with a spoon
Peel the apples and onions and cut them into eighths. I love this soft skin peeler from Zyliss - it's a $10 KilKenney Kitchen workhorse
Place the squash flesh down on the baking sheet along with the apple and onion pieces. Add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. If you are using the cubed squash (like the kind you can find at Trader Joes), combine the squash cubes with the apples & onions and a little water on a sheet pan
Roast the squash, apples and onions until the all the vegetables are browned and really tender when tested with a fork - about 50 minutes (about 40 minutes if you are using the squash cubes)
Let the squash cool until you can handle it. It should look soft and mushy in the skin
While the squash is cooling, get the ginger ready. You will find fresh whole ginger in the produce section of most grocery stores. If you can't find it, substitute a 1/2 tsp of ground ginger powder
Peel the ginger - here's a KilKenney Kitchen tip - Use the edge of a teaspoon to peel the skin off the ginger - it's fast and easy. Store the whole piece of ginger in a plastic bag in the freezer and you'll always have ginger ready to go
Use a microplane (another inexpensive KilKenney Kitchen workhorse) to grate the fresh or frozen ginger- it's a breeze to grate and smells fabulous! If you don't have a microplane, just chop the ginger very fine with a sharp knife
Once the squash has cooled, scrape the flesh out with a spoon and put it in a blender
Add the roasted apples and onions, grated ginger, (or ginger powder) salt and maple syrup (or honey or sugar) to the blender
Add 3 cups of the stock to the blender and blend on high until pureed. Add the remaining stock a little at a time until you get a smooth soup-like consistency
Add the half & half to the blender and blend to combine. (omit the half & half if you prefer a dairy free soup)
Pour the soup into a large stock pot and warm over medium heat until hot. Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings as needed. (Isn't this soup a gorgeous color?)
Serve the soup plain or with a dollop of plain yogurt and enjoy!