Pumpkin time again

Yesterday our church had a Harvest Party out at the Heritage Center S of town, & our Square Dance club performed & invited folks to join us on the dance floor! Was a big hit. A gal in her 80s who was a club member, but has had health issues & has memory loss joined the 'lesson,' & didn't miss a beat! Her daughter was in tears, watching mama out on the dance floor, helping her partner figure out where to go! So sweet.

I brought pumpkin soup & a big green salad to the potluck - this fall I got a copy of Gluten Free Girl & The Chef's wonderful cook/story book, & they have been sponsoring a weekly recipe 'cook off' - the first week was making their pumpkin soup! YUM!

Chantrelles were just hitting our farmer's market, so I made mine with fresh chantrelles, leeks, celery root & coconut milk (replacing red onion, celery & cream :) Have made it several times - it's great!

I roast the squash or pumpkin whole, as suggested by my CSA farmers Katie & Casey, till soft enough for a knife to easily pierce, then cut & scoop meat & seeds out. I roast the seeds - Shauna has a great recipe for pumpkin seed hummus on her blog.

PUMPKIN SOUP (adapted from the recipe in Gluten Free Girl & the Chef)

5# pumpkin or squash - roasted & meat scooped out, seeds roasted & set aside

2 Tbsp coconut oil
half dozen chantrelle mushrooms (or others in season - chantrelles are
nice & orange)
* saute the chantrelles & set aside

2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 large carrot - large diced
1 leek (white part) or onion - diced
2 stalks celery or 1/2" slice of celery root (celeriac) large diced
5 cloves garlic, smashed & peeled
* saute the veggies in a medium stock pot, ~ 10 minutes till soft add 1 Tbsp chopped fresh sage, saute till you smell the herb

1 medium sweet potato, peeled; medium diced
1/2 tsp fresh nutmeg (freshly grated)
1 bay leaf
2 quarts veggie stock
* toss sweet potato into the stock pot with the other veggies, cover with stock & add herbs. Add salt & fresh ground pepper. Bring to boil, reduce heat & simmer about 15 minutes.

Finishing: fish out the bay leaf, & puree about 2/3 of the soup in batches in a blender or food processor. Taste & season with salt & pepper - add 1/2 Cup coconut milk, & reserved chantrelles.

If you wish, add roasted pumpkin seeds to each bowl (Shauna has her method for roasting with the pumpkin seed spread recipe) I roast my pumpkin/squash whole, then scoop out the seeds, & put them in a pan, sprinkle with salt, & return to the hot oven for ~ 10 minutes or till they're lightly toasted.

Made the soup - yumm - then made a green salad, & a fun, creamy vegan PUMPKIN DRESSING!
1/3 cup pumpkin
1/3 Cup Coconut milk Kefir (plain)
1/3 Cup olive Oil
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I used Garam Masala)
1 Tbsp balsamic or cider vinegar
Blend till smoothe
This has been VERY POPULAR at my daughter's house!! The girls love helping MAKE kefir, & sometimes drink it ... my daughter has recently found she's sensitive to whey, as well as egg yokes (& somewhat sensitive to the whites) ... so some of the creamy dressing options aren't good for her.

I've been making kefir steadily since receiving the grains in the mail back in the spring. I still drink a cup of milk (coconut) kefir morning & evening, but haven't been making the water kefir. I tend to use canned coconut milk, & add 1/2 scoop cal/mag powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, & 1/2 tsp maple syrup, honey or agave nectar. Cover with a piece of muslin & fasten with a rubber band, & leave at room temp 24-36 hours.
Then strain the 'grains' out, & store the cultured kefir in the fridge; starting a new batch in a wide mouth quart jar. The girls usually want a bit of honey or agave nectar in theirs (less than 1/2 tsp!) & usually want to help me strain & start a new batch when they visit.

Happy fall - soup's on!