It’s been a really busy time around the Shaw household. John’s mother and father are moving from one aged care home to one less than 10 minutes from the house. Arcare in Maroochydore is a 5-star nursing home that opens on Monday morning. Joan and Rob will be 2 of the first three residents. We’ve been looking forward to helping them find the bits and pieces that make a room a home.
Yes, we haven’t done it yet. Rob had some problems with swelling in the boy bits and after scans and tests and prodding and poking it was decided that Rob and the dog would have a lot in common except Rob won’t have to wear a cone to keep from biting the stitches. He had surgery on Thursday night and at 5:30 tonight he was sitting in a chair eating his dinner. He still has a smile.
Back and forth to the hospital and up to Peregian Springs to get Joan so she doesn’t feel left out has left me exhausted. Plus, it’s winter and who doesn’t like soup in the winter? I love pumpkin or butternut soup. It’s one of my favorites. Pair it with some nice bread rolls and it’s a perfect meal for me.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 carrot finely chopped
- 1 apple chopped
- 500 grams/ 1 lb butternut pumpkin/squash cut into 1½" chunks
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- salt to taste (if your stock is salty, you won't need any)
- ¼ cup cream
- ½ cup small croutons
- In a large saucepan on medium heat, add the oil and the onion. Cook for 4 minutes until the onion is soft. Add the carrot and apple and cook for a couple of minutes longer.
- Add the pumpkin, curry powder and stock and bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes until the pumpkin is very soft.
- Add the pepper and taste for seasoning.
- Process with a hand blender or in batches in a food processor or blender.
- Return to the heat and add the cream but do not boil.
- Serve with a drizzle of cream and a few croutons in the center of the bowl if you want it to look pretty. I took the photo before I remembered the croutons, sorry.