Squash & Apple Soup

My sister-in-law made this soup last weekend when I visited her cabin in Maine. I then made it at my house in the midwest - with a bit of a change - then passed on to my niece who then made it at her house in coastal California. That's the beauty of recipes, they can go anywhere - this one traveled from the coast of Maine to the coast of California in the space of week.

In a soup pan place the following........

Butternut squash - Peel &remove seeds of medium to large butternut squash, cut into chunks
Green or Macintosh apples - Peel & core, cut into large pieces
1 to 2 cloves of garlic - peeled, place in pan whole
1 32 oz box of Chicken Broth - or more, enough to just cover the squash & apples
salt & pepper taste
1 to 2 tsp of cumin (my spice take)  
OR 1 to 2 tsp of curry (my sister-in-law spice take) 
OR 1 tsp of a mixture of all-spice, nutmeg  & cinnamon (my niece's spice take)

Simmer on low heat until thoroughly cooked
Take off heat
Puree with a hand-held mixer
Add a touch of heavy cream or a touch of 1/2 &1/2

Serve with home-made bread and slices of white sharp cheddar cheese

Gratefulness

"Gratitude is never automatic but must be deliberate”

It is Fall…………

I’m grateful for the cooler weather and the trees that look like they are backlit and illuminated

For two huge hawks that flew one after another hop-scotching from one tree to another during my morning walk last week

For the gentleman painting this morning in the park

For the French horn that accompanied the church choir at Sunday Mass

For a recent visit to a cabin in the woods of Maine

For artists & singers and this city that promotes their creativity

For a great great Uncle whose generosity brought me back in touch with a cousin

For family members who like to read as much as I do

For the moon reflecting off the lake in Maine

For the changing of the seasons

For witnessing a young boy get off his school bus with his backpack & violin case,immediately start reading a red hard-cover book as he slowly walked home

For recipes shared