Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Quick and Easy Fall Centerpiece and Creamy Soup Recipe

 

Hi Sweet Friends!  Thought this morning I’d share an easy centerpiece I made out of necessity!

Since I have our Keepers at Home Club meetings here each Thursday, and my dining room table is our “project table”, I needed to have an easy to relocate fall centerpiece, as oppposed to the more elaborate ones I prefer.

This two tiered basket had been used for fruit in my kitchen, but was retired not too long ago, and was stored in the garage pending it’s new life…either at Goodwill, or ….perhaps here!???

I had some fall stuff I hadn’t put out and thought I could combine it with this basket for an attractive, easily moved centerpiece. 

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So I just started to add it all in…and was quite pleased with how it was coming together

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And the end result!!  I LOVE it!!  I added two candle holders I got last year at Kirkland’s for more impact.

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Well, (I told you I like it more elaborate), so I just had to add some of my pinecones from North Carolina!!!  OK…I’m done…hands off!!!  Easy to move, remember…(as she smacks her hands!) LOL!!IMG_0716

 

TA-DA!!  Paula Deen’s Creamy Squash Soup!!


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Ya’ll are going to laugh at me…first, since my rooster soup mugs are new and I was pretty pooped out…I FORGOT TO USE THEM!!  ACK!!!  This soup is really pretty and would have looked so much better for the photo in the MUGS!!! 

Then I almost forgot to take a picture for my girls before I dove in for my first creamylicious bite
BUT, that just shows you that I DO think of you, because even though my mouth was waterin’, I quickly put my bowl down, grabbed the camera and snapped!!  All for you, my sweeties!!  All for you!!

This bread is absolutely PERFECT with this soup. It is from WalMart and is whole loaf 9 grain Italian bread.  All I did was cut through the middle of the loaf horizontally, buttered the halves, and put it under the broiler for 5-7 minutes.  The I cut about 2 inch wedges suited for dippin’!!  Mmm Mmm MMM!!

Now for those of you who may be “squash” soup skeptics, let me just say this…this soup is different, but delightful.  Hubby says if you like sweet potatoes you will like this.  It does not taste just like sweet potatoes, but has a similar essence of flavor and texture…certainly a winner for a cozy fall night.

Here is the recipe…oh one more thing…the sour cream may sound strange…but it sure adds to this soup!!  So does a little freshly ground pepper and a dash of salt!

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon butter
3   cans chicken broth (13 3/4-ounces each)
2   carrots, peeled and diced
1 cup diced onion
2 lb Butternut Squash, halved, peeled and seeded; cut into 1-inch pieces
1/3-1/2 cup light cream, you can use heavy if desired

Directions

Place squash in saucepan along with carrots, onions, and broth then add in the salt.  Simmer 40 minutes uncovered.  Puree soup in a blender or food processor along with 2 tablespoons butter.  Pour a little hot puree into the 1/3-1/2 cup cream so not to curdle the cream; add to soup.  Serve in a wide mouth shallow bowl with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 40 min
Difficulty: Easy

Let me know if you make it!!

{Have you lifted your heart in thanks to God yet this morning? }   {{smile}}

Lovies!!
Becky

27 comments:

  1. Good Morning Becky,
    Yummy~soup sounds wonderful! and your table center piece is so creative of you. You have done it again! Everything is lovey.
    Enjoy your day and keep creating,
    Elizabeth

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  2. Morning, Becky! Lovely centerpiece and your soup looks marvelous!
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  3. Love your elegant centerpiece, so autumn! Have a warm wonderful week. TTFN ~ Marydon

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  4. Oh, I LOVE the pinecones!! The perfect touch. For all our evergreens around here we rarely find big beautiful pinecones here (unless we go over the mountains) - they are a treat!! Your soup looked fabulous!! Yummy, yummy!! I'm making chicken soup today - with leeks and garlic and cabbage and carrots - pretty much as many veggies as I can fit in - hoping to ward off the flu that we sem to be surrounded by!!!
    Have a great day!!
    Love and hugs,
    Christine

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  5. Your club sounds great, Becky, and you've got the perfect centerpiece for them! I love your soup recipe, too. I am on a very restricted diet right now, and when I come off of it, I might give it a whirl! :-) Sounds great to me. I love pumpkin, sweet potato, and squash soups!

    Love to you and have fun with your friends...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  6. Hiddy Beck,
    Love how your centerpiece came out, really pretty, and goes really great with the candles and the pinecones, also with the tablecloth, that is a really pretty color.
    Looks great in the pics, bet it looks even better in real life.
    The soup looks really good too, doesn't look real involved either, I like that, will have to give it a try sometime. Kinda have my menus mapped out for this week, but soon!!
    That is an awesome bread, I have had it before too. Publix has awesome wholegrain breads as well! I could make a meal off those breads! They are so yummy!
    Have a great day my dear!
    Love ya, Nellie

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  7. Hi Becky,
    Just love your centerpiece, especially the N.C. pinecones. LOL If you need anymore, boy I have lots of them. LOL Your squash soup sounds delic.Have a great meeting today and a blessed day.
    Blessings,
    Sue

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  8. Beautiful centerpiece dear one! What is the Keeper of the Home group? Are you creating things for the home like crafts etc? Sounds interesting.

    That soup sounds delicious!

    Love you and blessings.

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  9. Hi Becky,
    Love your centerpiece..It turned out so pretty. Fall colors are the best. Your soup look delicious. We do the same thing, everyone is so anxious to eat they don't want to wait for pictures. Glad you got it looks delicous.. I will be making that if our weather ever cools off. :) Have a happy day.

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  10. the centerpiece looks amazing! i love it with everything in it, plus the candles, plus the pinecones. what a great idea!

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  11. Hi Becky

    Let me start by saying I LOVE the centerpeice...It is darling and such a creative idea. It makes me want to tour around your house as I have a feeling it is wonderously decorated. As for the soup, how yummy that looks. I would LOVE to cook some up and have a nice tasty bowl, but I while have to wait a while for that...this diet is pretty good, but it is lacking in soups, haha And I was wondering about that club?? That sounds like it is probably fun..OK, I'm off on the rest of my day now. Have a good day. Blessings to you, Debbie

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  12. Wow Becky! I luuuhuuhuv your creative autumn centerpiece! -- and the soup looks like something Martha Stewart just made--so yummy looking!!:)

    I could use some of that Florida sunshine today--just send some on up okay?:)

    Have a great Tuesday!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  13. Beautiful centerpiece!

    I'd love to give that squash soup a try - sounds yummy!

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  14. Hi Becky, I love your center piece! So beautiful. Your squash soup sounds yummy. I am fixing tortilla soup for the fam tonight. We just love soup. I will have to try yours. We love to put sour cream in our soup and in our butter beans too! My hubby started me on that and boy is it good!!! Have a blessed week dear friend. Hugs, Elena

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  15. I would love to know what is keepers of the home club? sounds interesting! i think your centerpiece is so lovely!well done!

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  16. Love your centerpiece!! And the soup looks yummy as well! And not too difficult either. I made split pea soup today and it was so good. Hubby and I love soup, I'm going to print this one out and add it to my collection. Thanks for the reminder!!!

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  17. Howdy Becky!
    You are so creative. Love the centerpiece!

    I've never had squash soup. May have to try it this fall. I love homemade soups. Your recipe looks yummy.

    Always love your posts. Hugs...

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  18. The fall centerpiece came out really nice, you did a great job. And that soup.....it's around 1.00pm around here, it's cold and raining...I want a bowl of it!
    Gracie at http://mylittleplace.blog.com

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  19. Love the centerpiece Becky! I've got the same little pumpkins from Walmart. :) Love the candle holders and candles. Such a pretty color!

    I've never tried a squash soup. Maybe one day I can persuade the crew to give it a try.

    Have a FAB day dear!
    Hugs!!
    Karfee

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  20. Becky, I am SOOO DIGGIN that fall centerpiece!
    wreeet wreeeew!
    Hey, when you have time would you write me and tell me more about your keepers of home meetins? I'd love to hear what yall do!
    The soup looks yummmO especially with the bread floaters. Nothin like some chewy crunch in a hot bowl of soup. Mmmmm
    Takin my hat off to you girly!
    holykisses xoxo
    Lea

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  21. Hello Becky my smiling friend.

    Just love your centre piece,

    bUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES, ITS SILKY SMOOTH IN TEXTURE AND SOOOOO COMFORTING.Ahhhh I am hit the caps button I must of got overly eager to reply.

    XXxx Clare

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  22. Very nice Fall centerpiece Becky! Good use of the tiered basket...Christine

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  23. Dearest Becky, I have made this soup today and you are right! What a delight! I had to substitute leeks for onions and some crumbled feta cheese for the sour cream, but it was just as delicious!! Thank you so much! Even Amelie loved it. And I hadn't lifted my heart in thanks - but as always after visiting your blog and being reminded of what is important - I did, and was thankful for that too. Much love and prayers to you, Fiona x

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  24. I love it! it is amazing how you can take things and put them together for something new.
    Great job!

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  25. Hi Becky! Oh, I was wondering if you had any left over soup? I sure could use some right about now! :)
    Thanks for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    shelia ;)

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  26. Hello my sweet friend, I am so sorry I haven't been over to thank you for the most wonderful birthday greeting. I have been swamped with company. My cousin left on Sunday and my sister-in-law and her hubby arrived on Wednesday. On top of that my Aunt and Uncle are here from MI. I LOVE the company but it leaves me very little time for my computer. sigh.
    This month I will have company 20 days out of 31 and will be in Fl. twice for Gator football games. Busy, is an understatement.

    Whew, moving forward. I have eaten squash soup and loved it. Your recipe sounds and looks delicious. Your centerpiece is beautiful. You are a centerpiece artist. Love the pine cone touch. I love your enthusiasm Becky. You always make me smile.
    I have to cook breakfast for a crowd. LOTS of cooking going on around here. I do love my life. Come and visit, I will cook for you.

    Have a blessed day.

    Love and hugs, Jeanne

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  27. The centerpiece is so pretty! You could replace the fall stuff with Christmas balls in December!
    Thanks for always leaving such kind remarks on my blog! It makes my day!

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