Peter's cream of pumpkin soup

 
                       PETER'S CREAM OF PUMPKIN SOUP
 
 Recipe By     : 
 Serving Size  : 4    Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Soups                            Holiday
                 Low-Cal
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    1       t            Safflower oil
    1       lb           Pumpkin, fresh
                         -cut in chunks,
                         -ÿÿCanned Pumpkin
    1                    Yellow onion
                         - peeled and chopped
    1       sm           Garlic clove
                         - peeled and crushed
    2                    Celery stalks -- chopped
    1                    Stalk fresh thyme -- -ÿÿ
      1/2   ts           -Dried thyme
      1/2                Bay leaf
    5       c            Chicken broth
    1 1/2   tb           Low-fat white cheese
                         -Such as cottage cheese,
                         - farmer's cheese,
                         - cream cheese or ricotta
    1       tb           Non-fat powdered milk
      1/2   c            Parsley, chervil and chives
                         - (minced)
 
   This Thanksgiving soup has but 65 calories per serving.
   
   IN A LARGE SAUCEPAN, heat the oil over a low fire. Add the vegetables
   (including the fresh pumpkin, but not the canned), thyme and bay leaf.
   Reduce the heat, cover, and let cook gently for 8 minutes. Stir
   occasionally to keep the vegetables from browning. Add the broth and the
   pumpkin, if using canned; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer,
   uncovered, for either 20 minutes (fresh pumpkin) or 10 minutes (canned
   pumpkin). Puree mixture in batches in a blender. Pour pureed soup through a
   fine strainer back into saucepan and return to boil. If it seems too thick,
   thin with a little hot broth or water. (Can be made to this point up to 2
   days in advance and refrigerated, loosely covered.) Before serving, reheat
   soup to boiling. Pour back into the blender and add the cottage cheese and
   powdered milk. Blend 20 seconds. Taste for seasoning. Ladle the soup into 4
   heated soup bowls; sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the minced fine herbs over
   each. Serve immediately.
  
 
 
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