mini curried squash soup, unique garnishes

a 3 oz. portion of spicy curried butternut squash soup with creme fraiche
garnished with toasted coconut, chopped cashews, dried pomegranate arils

As I tinker with my table setting ideas for our holiday parties
here’s what’s been playing on the stereo:

This year’s Christmas Compilation is a mix of classic and contemporary.

Play List
Dean Martin – A Marshmallow World
Rod Stewart & Dolly Parton – Baby It’s Cold Outside
Bing Crosby – It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas
The Christmas Party Singers – Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord
Eartha Kitt – Santa Baby
Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas
Jimmy Buffett – Mele Kalikimaka
Barbra Steisand – Jingle Bells?
The Carpenters – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Andy Williams – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick
Frank Sinatra – White Christmas
U2 – Christmas, Baby Please Come Home
Louis Armstrong – Winter Wonderland
The Carpenters – Merry Christmas Darling
Elvis Presley – Here Comes Santa Claus
Stevie Nicks – Silent Night
The Carpenters – The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Johnny Mathis with the Percy Faith Orchestra – Sleigh Ride
Jimmy Buffett – Christmas in the Caribbean
Burl Ives – Holly Jolly Christmas

What are you listening to as you bake cookies, trim your tree, and plan your holiday menus?

curried butternut squash soup with creme fraiche recipe

Toss a cubed butternut squash, two sliced apples, and one chopped onion with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast in  425° oven until tender, about 40 minutes. To achieve a smooth texture, process the vegetables through a food mill, then combine in a pot with enough vegetable stock to get a thick soup consistency. Heat and stir in curry powder, cayenne pepper, creme fraiche and finally salt to taste.

Ladle the hot soup into small glasses or bowls.

Garnish with dried pomegranate arils, toasted coconut, and chopped cashews.

The fragrant curry with a kick from cayenne pepper made this soup a bit hit. Creme fraiche added a tangy creaminess and richness. The unique garnishes added an unexpected twist to a classic cold weather soup. Finally, since we were serving many courses, the mini portion was just enough to titillate the guests with anticipation of the meal to come at A Foodie Christmas Dinner Party…

happy holidays and happy entertaining!