Tag Archives: butternut squash

belles are smokin’…with smoked paprika

09 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by in belle-icious, Uncategorized

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We are both in the kitchen a good bit, tweakin’ this and that, so even our old stand-by recipes are not immune to an adjustment or two.  Case in point…one belle’s desire to change up her go-to Moroccan Spiced Butternut Squash soup…we published here a couple of years ago.  Here’s what she came up with…

Smokey Butternut Squash Soup


2-3 butternut squash, cubed (or 3-4 bags frozen, pre-chopped)

1 onion, sliced or chopped

1 red bell pepper, halved and seeded

4-6 c chicken broth

4-5 cloves garlic

1 t smoked paprika

1 t Beautiful Briny Sea French Picnic salt 

(Hint…we’ve told you about the Beautiful Briny folks before)

1/2 t each cumin, coriander, and curry

1/2 t ground black pepper

Olive or coconut oil for roasting the pepper, onion and garlic


Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Toss pepper and onion in oil and season with a bit of salt.  Place on a baking sheet.  Form a foil pouch for the garlic, drizzle with oil, and place on sheet with pepper and onion.  Roast in oven for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, place squash and spices in a saucepan.  Pour about 4 c chicken broth over all and stir.  Bring to boil and then turn to a simmer for about 15-20 minutes.  

When pepper and onions are nicely browned, remove from oven and pull the peel off of the pepper.  Now, dump everything (pepper, onion, garlic, and cooked squash and liquid) into a blender, vitamix, food processor (choose your fave)…or grab your stick blender and go to town!

Place soup back in pot and allow to simmer until ready to serve.


Some garnish ideas:  bacon, goat cheese, toasted walnuts, toasted pecans, a swirl of cream…get creative!
Smokin’!!

a&a

moroccan-spiced butternut squash soup…an exotic spin on a fall favorite

31 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by in belle-icious, friday friend 1-1

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Here’s a yummy fall friday friend-1-1 for you, belles!

Butternut squash soup is a favorite in both of our homes this time of year. In fact, we get requests quite often, but we never let the fam in on a little secret…it’s super-easy to make! With fresh, pre-cut or frozen butternut squash in markets everywhere, the stuff practically makes itself!! Pick from any number of recipes out there, and you’re in business…you can’t go wrong!

However…we do have one old stand-by that adds a little spicy twist to the ordinary. One belle discovered it a decade ago (in the October 2004 Fitness magazine) and has adapted it over the years to suit her tastes…and ingredients on-hand (again, we seldom follow ANY recipe “by-the-book”…no fun!).

Moroccan-spiced Butternut Squash Soup

the ingredients:

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1-2 butternut squash (about 3 lbs) halved and seeded
1 gala apple, peeled (or your favorite variety…we’ve even used a pear)
1/2 t extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 t kosher salt
2 cloves garlic
1 1-inch piece fresh gingeroot, peeled and cut in half
1 t curry powder
1/2 t ground cumin
1/4 t coriander

heat oven to 400 degrees

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Rub olive oil and sprinkle salt on cut sides of squash. Place a clove of garlic and a piece of ginger on a foil-lined cookie sheet, then place a squash half, flesh side down, over the garlic/ginger combo. Continue with the remaining garlic, ginger, and squash. Roast for 45 minutes. Remove and allow to cool slightly.

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Scrape squash flesh, garlic, and ginger in blender or food processor. Add broth, spices, apple, and 1 c water. Process until smooth. Pour into saucepan and heat, covered, over low heat until heated through.

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The finished product…with a little popcorn garnish…belleicious!!

You might have a new fall family favorite!!
a&a