Fall Soup-tacular...

When Brady and I started living together in Valdosta we'd always throw a big 'bonfire bash' and invite lots of our friends over...even when the south Georgia weather wasn't quite cool enough for such things.  Eh, we're rebels!  One of the things that I'd always cook up was a big batch of spicy pumpkin soup because it's a) easy b) enough to feed lots of folks and c) delicious.  So, even though we aren't having a shindig this year in Athens (we still don't know too many people up here...but that will hopefully change soon) I decided to whip up some soup for the two of us.  Pair it with some fresh bread and a good beer (Red Hoptober is our new favorite), and you've got a hearty dinner on your hands...

You'll need:

• 6 cups of roasted pumpkin
• 5 cups of veggie stock
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 2 T chopped roasted garlic
• 2 t curry powder
• 2 small pinches powder cayenne pepper (be sure to wash your hands after handling!!!)
• 1/4 t smoked paprika (optional)
• 2 large pinches of fresh ground pepper

Heat up the stock on mid-low then add all ingredients except coconut milk.  Allow to simmer for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.  Puree in smallish batches in either a food processor or blender.  Return to pot and heat again on low.  Slowly add coconut milk.  Taste and adjust spices accordingly.  If there is too much heat from the cayenne pepper then add a dollop of plain yogurt or heavy cream to even it out.  Either serve hot or store for reheating.  Remember that soup is always better the next day since it does allow the flavors/spice to become more prominent...but you may have to adjust spices during final reheating.  Oh, and you can double the ingredients if you're serving a large number of folks (6-10). 

I'm planning on having a big bowl of this tonight after I finished getting organized for the day.  Maybe finally watch a documentary I've been obsessing over lately?  Yes, that sounds amazing!

Happy Friday everyone!

PS - Today at the restaurant I waited on a guy who looked exactly like Andrew Bird.  Guess who's in town and playing in Athens tonight?  Yep!  I met Andrew Bird and didn't even know it at the time.  Ha!