Butternut Squash Soup Shots With Candied Bacon Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut squash in half lengthwise, remove seeds, and place cut side down on baking dish; add 1/2 inch of water and bake until fork tender, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, trim leeks, slit lengthwise and wash thoroughly.
• Rough chop the white and light green parts (save tough green tops for making stock).
• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium low heat.
• Saute leeks for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, then add curry powder.
• Scoop out squash flesh and add to pot; pour in chicken broth, ginger, maple syrup, and salt.
• Simmer 30 minutes.
• Puree the soup using an immersion blender, or a regular blender or food processor in batches.
• While soup is simmering, you can prepare the bacon.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a heavy skillet, over medium heat, cook bacon, in batches, until lightly browned, but not crisp; drain on paper toweling.
• Meanwhile, combine brown sugar, cayenne, and black pepper.
• Arrange bacon strips on a parchment or brown paper lined baking tray and coat with brown sugar mixture.
• Bake until sugar is caramelized and bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes; transfer to brown paper to cool (will stick to paper towels).
• Reheat soup, if necessary, and serve in shot glasses with 1/2 slice of bacon standing up in it - or serve in bowls as a soup course with crumbled bacon.

Steps:

• Cook bacon slices in large pot until crisp.
• Remove bacon and drain.
• Reserve 2 tbsp drippings in pan.
• Crumble bacon and set aside.
• Saute onion and carrots in bacon drippings over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes (until onion is tender).
• Add celery and apple to pan and saute 5 minutes.
• And garlic and saute 1 minute.
• Add squash and chicken broth.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until carrots are tender.
• Process mixture, in batches, in a blender or food processor until smooth.
• (Hot mixtures will erupt out of blender if too full- believe me I know).
• Return mixture to pot.
• Stir in lime juice and next 7 ingredients.
• Simmer for 7-10 minutes or until thickened.
• Top soup with crumbled bacon and garnish with sour cream and red pepper.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan with a lid, melt butter and cook onion over low low heat until translucent and sweet. About 30 minutes.
• Add chopped bacon, butternut squash and stock.
• Cook 30 minutes or until squash is tender.
• Add sage and salt and pepper to taste.
• Using an immersion blender, blend soup until smooth.
• Add cream, sour cream and cheese and heat through, stirring to melt cheese.
• Serve with toasted bread croutons, or crostini.

Steps:

• Sauté bacon in heavy large pot over medium heat until crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Add chopped onion and garlic to drippings in pot; sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add chicken broth; bring to boil. Stir in butternut squash, 1 can cannellini with liquid, drained tomatoes, and fresh rosemary. Puree remaining 2 cans cannellini with liquid in processor until smooth; add to soup. Cover and simmer until butternut squash is tender and flavors blend, about 15 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper. (Bacon and soup can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap and chill bacon. Chill soup uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm bacon and soup separately before serving.)
• Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with chopped bacon and serve.