Picture This! Butternut Pear Soup

After years of neglecting squash, I was excited to puree it into something edible. I was also on a mission to convince my husband how filling soup can be (he's not a fan), among other agendas. I found a recipe and enthusiastically started early on my adventure; packing this many firsts into one meal would take time.

The wonderful aroma of squash and yam simmering with a cinnamon stick kept me interested. Then, I began to saute onions with pears. That contrast of eye-watering onions to sweet pears and spicy cinnamon marked the turning point in this venture. No longer was I making a sweet-flavored squash soup rivaling the sweet potato casserole with pecan streussel I made over the holidays. No, this soup was now decidedly different in a way that I must either love or hate.

Three hours later, I exhaustedly apologized to my husband for making such a “unique” soup.

“No, it's fine,” he stated as he quickened spoonfuls to demonstrate his approval.

Even all the support he could muster couldn't convince that the soup was delicious. It was just too different from what either of us eat on a regular basis.

I indeed packed too many firsts into one meal—this was my first experience cooking squash, my first time ever pureeing a soup (until now, my soup came from a can), my first introduction of fruit in a soup, and, shamefully, my first experience with fresh pears. That's a lot of firsts for the end result I imagined (my husband bowing in awe for transforming his preconceived ideas on soup). The plus side: We were filled. I discovered Wild Brown Rice Pilaf. And I plan to try the recipe again when my taste buds are a little more acclimated to these new flavors and textures.

Without further delay...

Butternut Pear Soup

(Select first image to view slide show; click here to view and download recipe.)

VeggieMealMaker.com | Vegetarian & Vegan Meal Plans