#FrannyCooks : Crema di Zucca (Pumpkin Cream Soup)

Over the Christmas/New Year break, I brought back with me a new toy -- my Oster Hand Blender! Actually, I've had it since our wedding day in 2010 but since we first lived with my in laws and later moved to my parents' house, I never really got around to using my own appliances or cooking utensils as Mommy has kept the kitchen complete with practically everything that I could possibly need.

I was so excited about this and I've been day dreaming about all the different things that I can create using my blender. First was to recreate my favorite Crema di Zucca from Cibo which is a rich and yummy Pumpkin Cream Soup. After researching across a dozen (or even more) recipes, I found the one that I like and kept it on bookmark for the next two weeks.

As soon as my work ended last Monday, I made a mad dash to the grocery which thankfully is just located across my office building. I've memorized all the ingredients that I needed and within 15 minutes I was on my way home. You see, Paul normally has to work late during Mondays so I have a bit more time to prepare dinner. My goal is to have everything ready by 8pm so he can just walk in the door, head straight to the dining table (of course, he got to wash his hands first) and start eating. Given that it took me sometime to shop plus to commute home, I was in a state of panic when I got home. I had less than an hour to cook!

Let me share this recipe with you. First off, here are the things that you need:

1kg pumpkin or butternut squash, chopped into smaller cubes

3 cups of chicken stock (I would recommend you boil chicken and create this from scratch but if you're in a rush like me, then just grab them off the shelves instead)

1 small garlic, sliced

1 medium-sized white or yellow onion, sliced

1 cup milk

For garnishing: sour cream and bacon bits

To taste: salt and pepper

Now that you have your ingredients, here's what you have to do:

1) Throw in all dry ingredients into the pot -- pumpkin, garlic and onions

2) Add 3 cups of chicken stock followed by 1 cup of milk

3) Turn on the fire and wait till the soup comes to a boil. Take it off from the heat.

4) *The most exciting part!* Using your hand blender, carefully mashed and blend all the ingredients together.


Here's a video of my first attempt and admittedly, it took me a while to get into the right "rhythm" for it. The first minute had soup splattering everywhere! However, I've managed to have better control of the hand blender and was able to blend my soup without any mishaps after that.

5) Tadahhhh! Your soup is almost done. Use a wooden spoon to check if you've got some solid ingredients left and continue blending to ensure that all have been mashed up.

6) Season with pepper and salt. I like to boil the soup one more time just to enhance the flavor even more.

7) Add a teaspoon of sour cream and sprinkle with bacon bits before serving. Enjoy!

The best part was I got the thumbs up from Paul making the mad dash and adrenaline rush to prepare this soup so worth it. It's really easy and I think I can do this more often as it doesn't require a lot of ingredients and it's a simple 7-step process too.

Try it and share your experience (and photos) with me in my comment box below!