I don’t like Fall. There I said it. While people all over are thrilled that it’s fall, I can’t stand it. Mostly it’s because I don’t like cooler weather. I could seriously live where it’s almost 90 all year-long, except at Christmas because that’s just weird in my opinion I don’t care for Halloween, or falling leaves, or the idea that after Fall comes winter.

I do however love some foods that are generally associated with Fall! I love chili, ok especially my chili, chicken soup, beef stew….but I don’t like Pumpkin pie. I never have and until maybe 6 years ago that was the only way I ever had pumpkin. Well, guess what? It turns out that it’s not pumpkin I don’t like, but pumpkin pie spice and some other spices used with pumpkin.

My husband and I got married in 2004, and for our honeymoon went on a Carnival cruise to the Caribbean. Let me tell you, cruise ships serve great food! In the restaurant on the top deck of the ship is where I first had pumpkin soup. It was fabulous, a creamy and smooth delight! It was so good I bought the Carnival Cruises Cookbook, which contains their recipe for it. The biggest difference between their version and mine is I use fresh cubed pumpkin instead of pumpkin puree. They also call their’s West Indian pumpkin soup, though I’m not sure what makes it West Indian.

I have made this soup every year for Thanksgiving since, and some years Christmas too! Last year the stores stopped carrying pumpkins earlier than the past few years, and I was heartbroken. I wanted to make it for Christmas! I have since vowed to buy way more pumpkins than I need at once, then freeze the sliced cubes. I also want to experiment with other pumpkin recipes this fall and winter

Pumpkin Soup ( I always at least double this recipe for the holidays, this year I might triple it to have some leftover for me!!)

3 1/2 cups pumpkin, cubed into 1/2-1 inch pieces

6 cups chicken stock ( if I don’t have any home-made, I use Kitchen Basics)

1 cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme ( or 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Combine cubed pumpkin, chicken stock, onion, garlic, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper in a large pot and bring to a boil, uncovered. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Using an immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor or blender puree the soup until smooth. At this point the soup can be cooled and refrigerated, continuing with the next step the next day.

Return the soup to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for another 30 minutes, uncovered. Stir in heavy cream and serve immediately. Enjoy, and happy Fall!!

I shared this recipe on Foodie Friend’s Friday