Friday, October 5, 2012

Fantasy Food Friday: Capitol's Pumpkin Soup

Hello again!

Today's entrant in Fantasy Food Fridays is from the most recent addition to young adult cult favorites: The Hunger Games. I read them over my Christmas break this past year, and I have to say, I couldn't put them down. Katniss is a heroine worth obsessing over and her story is heart-wrenching-ly good.

Katniss' first adventure is to the Capitol with her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark. The foods Katniss and Peeta encounter during the weeks before the Games begin are amazing to them: rich, delicious and bizarre.

But one of the things they try is Pumpkin Soup.

So, I decided that, it now being primo pumpkin season, we should try pumpkin soup.

But first, a quick story:

remember a couple weeks ago when we tried Ginger Beer? Well. I was making Pumpkin Soup for dinner for myself and the Mom last night. Dinner was ready, and I was looking in the fridge for a beverage. In the bottom of the door, there was a bottle of Ginger Beer... I pick up the liter (or more) size bottle, place it on the counter, and go to unscrew the cap.... BOOM!

The whole bottle exploded, a ginger beer geyser in the kitchen. It was dripping down the back of my neck! There were pieces of fresh ginger ON THE CEILING. I'll try to add in a picture of me covered in it later, but anyway, be careful with your ginger beer... and that's why the pictures for this week are... lacking. Apologies.

Anyhow, without any further ado,

Capitol's Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:
  • 2-3 cups chicken stock
  • one small can pumpkin
  • 3-4 tablespoons chopped onion
  • one clove fresh garlic, minced
  • two sprigs fresh Thyme, chopped
  • 2-3 teaspoons of Salt
  • 4 tablespoons heavy cream



step one: heat the stock, pumpkin, onion, garlic, thyme and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring the liquid to a boil and then simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes.



Step two: Remove from heat, and put through the food processor in about 1 to 1.5 cup batches. It doesn't take long, but you do need to make sure the lumps (especially from the onions) are smoothed out.

Step three: return to heat, bring it back to a boil and let simmer another twenty minutes.

Step four: remove from heat, stir in the cream, garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

put in bowls and serve- we had it with a great crusty bread- it was delicious! Enjoy!!