Chipotle Pumpkin Soup

\

I really wish the internet had smell-0-vision because this recipe was an olfactory circus. It's pumpkin week people!!! Ah Great Pumpkin, you orange devil you. I forget sometimes that you are a humble gourd like the butternut and acorn. Majestic and often times fantastically shaped, you sit on your side growing to massive size. You are named for the Greek word for big ass melon, "pepon." Pumpkins, like their tiny squash brothers, are rich in beta carotene, fiber and antioxidants. Basically when you see orange you know you are getting some seriously good vitamins and minerals. Avoid the canned pumpkin pie variety, it has sugar added. I went with the straight unadulterated canned pumpkin. Which leads me to our recipe today...

Ingredients
one can of pumpkin guts
1 white onion chopped or sliced.
2 cloves of garlic
1tsp veggie better than bouillon
4Tbs chipotle sauce
6 baby bella mushrooms or other 'shroom of your choice
1 ripe pear chopped
1 bunch of sage leaves coarsely chopped
1 smoked turkey sausage cut
1Tbs brown sugar
pinch of allspice
salt and pepper to taste

In your pot, melt butter (I used our vegan butter) and saute your onions and mushrooms. Here is where the smell-o-vision gets crazy. People will be coming from all over, floating on their noses like in an old Tom and Jerry cartoon. Add the garlic, pear and sage. Continue to pat yourself on the back for the amazing way your kitchen is smelling. (side note: this combo right here, minus the pear, is a classic and can be used to start just about any deelish dish, like risotto or stuffing to name a few.)

Now add the canned pumpkin, 2 cups of water, the chipotle sauce, brown sugar and allspice. Reduce the flame to simmer.

Once all of the flavors are blended you are good to go!

Serving note: To make this a meal I served it over some corn cakes I had left from Sunday and a dollop of low fat Greek yogurt. The tang from the yogurt cools the tongue from the heat of the chipotle. This dish was a surprise, I will definitely make it again. It was fast and easy. You can even throw it all in your crock pot and maybe add some barley.