Sunny soup on a rainy day

I think I've mentioned before how I like a rainy day. Especially the ones that start out grey with mists twirling round tree trunks; a rough wind that makes the palm fronds rear like wild horses, leaf manes flying; Rain that starts in a whisper and fall in a steady curtain

Today is such a day. I feel like taking pictures of everything! But like wild horses, it is sometimes difficult to catch what you're eyes are witnessing. If you want a colour to shine, put it against grey.

I spend most of the day indoors, feeling snug and cosy. I decide on a simple soup for lunch - comfort food. As always, I have a look at what I have available, being in no mood or apparel to go shopping on a day such as this.

Some nice young butternut, onions, garlic. I could make my favourite butternut soup with orange zest. Only thing is, it's not orange season so I don't have the all important zest. What else can I use as substitute? Something fresh tasting, slightly tangy, in season.

As far as fruit goes I have Granny Smith apples, bananas, apricots and exactly two gooseberries from the bush outside, to choose from. I pair them one by one with the butternut in my imagination and decide to go with the apricot.

A sunny soup if ever there was one!

4 small butternut, halved and seeds scooped out
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
4 cups water or chicken stock
3 ripe apricots, halved and stoned (or the zest of one orange)
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method
Preheat oven to 180 degree C and roast butternut on a tray until soft and slightly browned.
Leave to cool while frying the onion and garlic till soft and translucent.
(If using the zest, fry this with the onion and garlic)
Scoop butternut flesh from skins and add to onion mix. Discard the skins.
Add water or stock,apricots and seasoning to taste and simmer for 15 minutes.
Blend with a stick blender until smooth and puffy.
Garnish with roasted butternut seeds and serve with crusty bread.

Note: This makes a good two litres of soup. And it should freeze nicely.

Matilda

Comments

Vanuit Die Restory - Gesprekke Tussen Reisgenote (110)

Die Week Na 'n Dood Sebastien op sy gelukkigste - by water, besig om vis te vang Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Musiek Sebastien het altyd gesê, "I like old music.' Hy het. Billy Joel se Piano Man was vir baie lank die ringtone op sy foon. Dat ons só gelukkig kan wees, dankie Sebas. George & Matilda

Vanuit Die Restory / From The Restory (135)

Onlangse Oorsig / Recent Summary Foto's Van Onlangse Gebeure / Pictures Of Recent Events 'n Huis opgeknap en geverf met 'n nuwe badkamer, die koms van lente en reën, retreats, die CMR se breimarathon, aanbied en afsluiting van die Verfrissingskursus in geestelike begeleiding, bywoon van ons kleindogter Ariana se gradeplegtigheid ("Nee Oupa, dis 'n gradige plegtigheid!") voordat sy volgende jaar grootskool toe gaan. A house renovated and painted with a new bathroom, the arrival of spring and rain, retreats, the CMR's knitting marathon, presenting and finishing the Refresher course in spiritual guidance, attending our granddaughter Ariana's graduation before she goes to big school next year. Klank / Sound Die klank van sagte reën na die storm is op baie vlakke nou gepas. The sound of gentle rain after the storm is now appropriate on many levels. Met ons liefde, soos altyd. With our love, as always. George & Matilda

Vanuit Die Restory - Gesprekke Tussen Reisgenote (120)

Skuld as Motivering Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek ~ ❖ ~ "I am convinced that guilt and shame are never from God. They are merely the defenses of the False Self as it is shocked at its own poverty — the defenses of a little man who wants to be a big man. God leads by compassion toward the soul, never by condemnation. If God would relate to us by severity and punitiveness, God would only be giving us permission to do the same (which is tragically, due to our mistaken images of God, exactly what has happened!)." Richard Rohr ~ ❖ ~ "It is about as hard to absolve yourself of your own guilt as it is to sit in your own lap. Wrongdoing sparks guilt sparks wrongdoing ad nauseam, and we all try to disguise the grim process from both ourselves and everybody else. In order to break the circuit we need friends before whom we can put aside the disguise, trusting that when they see us for what we fully are, they won't run away screaming with, if nothing wors

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