Fall is here, so soup is on!

Hi All! It's Nicole, Annette's web-manager and friend. While Annette has been enjoying gorgeous weather in Italy, I've been swealtering in Atlanta. However, this weekend, it finally took a slight, cooler turn, and I am officially ready for soup season. In my opinion, there is nothing better than preparing a big pot of soup, smelling it simmer, and enjoying it throughout the week.Of course, when looking for a great fall soup, I turned to Annette's archives. And of course, I found exactly what I was looking for: butternut squash soup. 

Butternut Squash SoupServes 8

You will need:

- 1 cup cubed butternut squash- 1 cup rough chopped yellow onion- 1 cup cubed carrots- 1 cup cubed celery- 1 cup cubed parsnips- 1/2 cup cubed baby red potatoes- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley- 2 cups kale, shredded- 1/4 cup olive oil- 1 15 oz can of white beans- 1 quart organic vegetable stock- salt and pepperTo prepare:Peel and cube squash, onion, carrots, celery, parsnips, and red potato into 1-inch cubes.Put the vegetables in a heavy cast iron pot, except the kale and white beans.Saute all the vegetables in the olive oil until the vegetables are soft and the onion is translucent  (about 15 minutes). Then add the kale, beans and stock, and stir until blended.  Season mixture with salt and pepper.Simmer on low heat for 1.5 hours.To serve:Serve this soup with crusty bread and a spinach, apple, walnut salad with blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette.  This perfect for a tummy-warming fall supper with family and friends!