Cynthia Ferris-Bennett: Why I love fall! (recipe)

It is finally fall, my absolute favorite time of the year. The evenings become crisp and cool, the leaves begin to change, it’s only 90 days until Christmas (yes, I start planning now), and harvests are happening everywhere.

Palates turn to those comfort foods we wait for all year long: stews, pot pies, apple everything, shepherd pies, chowders, chicken pot pies, hearty lasagnas, casseroles and of course, anything pumpkin and my absolute favorite, soup.

You can always find fresh frozen soups, sauces, lasagnas and so much more in the Sierra Chef Freezer but when fall comes around the soups really go into high gear and the freezer is packed full of comfort food favorites.

Top on that list is our Butternut Squash Apple Soup.

• 2 tablespoons salted butter

• 2 large leeks (white parts only), wash thoroughly, rough chop

• 1 large onion, rough chopped

• 1 large yellow potato, peeled and cubed

• 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed

• 1 cup diced carrots

• 1 Jazz or other sweet apple, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick

• 1 quart chicken stock (Vegetable stock for our vegetarian folks)

• ¼ cup dry white wine (Optional, but highly recommended)

• ½ cup light cream

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly ground if possible)

• Sea salt and pepper to taste

• 2 tablespoons chopped chives

• 8 ounce crispy bacon (Optional)

Directions

1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in leeks and onions; cook and stir until onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes. Add potato, squash, carrots, apple, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes.

2. Carefully purée soup in batches in a blender, or use an immersion blender (my personal preference) to purée soup in the pot. Once soup is puréed, return it to the pot and stir in wine and cream. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper; simmer gently for 5 minutes.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped chives and bacon.

Visit Sierra Chef at 2292 Main St., in Genoa, Suites 3 & 4 and our Cucina Campagna, Suite 6. For a complete listing of all Classes, Events and Wine Pairing Dinners Like Sierra Chef Nevada on Facebook and #SierraChef in Instagram…Mangia Bene!

Cynthia Ferris-Bennett, a Nevada native, is the owner of the Sierra Chef Culinary Center & Cucina Campagn.