Acorn Squash Soup with Apple and Goat Cheese

You've seen them at the grocery store. They're the weird green gourd-like objects that are usually sold for 99 cents. Not quite a pumpkin and not quite a butternut squash. the acorn squash is cheap...and needs some lovin'.

It tastes closer to a pumpkin than a butternut squash, and it makes a really easy soup (although you could totally cut it open, throw some brown sugar and cinnamon, and just eat it like that). This recipe makes about 2-3 cups of soup.

ACORN SQUASH SOUP:

What you need:
-blender
-sheet pan
-1 acorn squash
-brown sugar
-1 teaspoon pumpkin spice (or half teaspoon cinnamon and a half teaspoon of nutmeg)
-paprika (for garnish)
-1 TBSP butter
-1/2 cup of 1% milk (this depends on how much squash you end up getting. I would pour enough milk to where when you put it in the blender, it becomes the right, smooth consistency)
-oil (I used coconut because it's awesome): just to make sure the squash doesn't stick to the pan
-salt (to taste. I used half a teaspoon)
-a few cracks of pepper
-goat cheese (for garnish)
-apple slices (garnish-I ended up with Fugi, but a good green apple would be awesome)

STEP 1: Set the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash in half, so you have to equal pieces, and scoop out the seeds. Oil your baking sheet, and set the squash with the open end FACE DOWN on the baking sheet. Put them in the oven for about 20 minutes. Check, and if a knife easily goes through it, you're good to go.

STEP 2:  Scoop out the acorn...meat...and avoid the burnt-y parts. Place the milk, acorn squash meat, spices, butter, and sugar into the blender, and put it on 'puree', or something in the mid-speed section of your blender.

STEP 3: Crumble your goat cheese up and slice up your apples into thin, tiny slices. Place aside.

STEP 4: Pour the soup mixture into a saucepan and place on a low heat. Taste the soup and add additional spices to taste (for spice, red chilli flakes, or cayenne pepper, or cinnamon, salt, etc.)

STEP 5: Once soup is hot enough, pour into bowls and place garnishes on top. Put a small shake of paprika on top.

And there you go! You can serve with a whole wheat cracker thing...or make yourself a nice, garlic-y, butter crouton :)