Autumn Vegetable Soup

As I mentioned yesterday, as part of my (so far great!) attempt at remaining active, I will be posting a autumn recipe everyday in November. In December I will be updating daily with cookie recipes. :) 

As we enter into these colder months, one thing I think of is the image of sitting by the fire with a nice hot bowl of soup watching the leaves fly by, or the snow fall. Soup is usually my go to meal since it is relatively easy to make. Here is a recipe I found for autumn vegetable soup. Here is what you need:

2 Tbs. olive oil 
3 medium carrots, cut into medium dice 
1 large yellow onion, cut into medium dice 
2 medium cloves garlic, minced 
2 cups 1/2-inch-cubed peeled butternut squash (about half a 2-lb. squash) 
1/4 tsp. ground allspice 
Pinch cayenne pepper; more to taste 
Kosher salt 
1 quart lower-salt chicken broth 
1 14.5-oz. can no-salt-added diced tomatoes 
4 sprigs fresh thyme 
2 cups lightly packed, coarsely chopped kale 
1 cup lower-salt canned chickpeas 

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the squash, allspice, cayenne, and 1 tsp. salt and stir to combine. Add the broth, tomatoes with their juice, and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the kale and the chickpeas and cook uncovered until the squash is tender and the kale has wilted, about 10 minutes more. Discard the thyme springs before serving. Season to taste with more salt and cayenne.

Credit: Fine Cooking