Monday, October 23, 2006

Yields: 9 1/2 cups or 8 first-course servings
Cook Time: about 35 minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 small garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 carton (32 ounces) chicken or vegetable broth (4 cups)
1 can (29 ounces) pure pumpkin (not pumpkin-pie mix)
1 can or bottle (12 to 15.2 ounces) carrot juice
1/2 cup roasted shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Directions:

1. In 4-quart saucepan, melt margarine over medium heat. Add carrot and onion, and cook 8 to 10 minutes or until soft, stirring frequently. Add garlic, cumin, and cinnamon, and cook 1 minute, stirring.

2. Add broth, pumpkin, and carrot juice to saucepan, stirring to combine. Cover saucepan and heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer, covered, 15 minutes to blend flavors.

3. Stir soup just before serving. Pass pumpkin seeds to sprinkle over soup.