Ingredients

For a first course, serve this appetizer soup. Choose one type of winter squash or try a combination.

• 4-1/2 to 5 pounds banana, buttercup, butternut, Hubbard, and/or turban squash
  
  
• 2 cups chopped green onions
  
  
• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
  
  
• 1/4 cup butter
  
  
• 5 cups chicken stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth (three 14-1/2-ounce cans)
  
  
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  
  
• 1/2 cup dairy sour cream
  
  
• 3 tablespoons snipped chives
  
  
• Toasted pumpkin seeds (optional)
  
  
• 4 slices bacon, crisp-cooked, drained and crumbled (optional)
  
  
• Fresh herbs (optional)

Directions

1. Wash and halve squash lengthwise; remove seeds. Place halves, cut sides down, in baking dish(es). Bake in 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Turn cut sides up. Bake, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes more or until tender. Cool slightly.
   
   
2. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven or kettle, cook green onions and thyme in butter over medium-low heat for 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
   
   
3. Scoop squash out of skins; discard the skins. Place about 1/4 of the squash, onion mixture, and chicken stock or broth at a time in a food processor bowl or blender container. Cover and process or blend until smooth. Repeat with remaining squash, onion mixture, and stock in batches.
   
   
4. Return all to Dutch oven or kettle. Stir in pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer 20 minutes.
   
   
5. To serve, ladle soup into warm bowls. Drizzle with sour cream and sprinkle with snipped chives. If you like, top with toasted pumpkin seeds or crumbled bacon and garnish with fresh herb.

Makes 8 appetizer servings.

Make-Ahead Tip: The soup may be prepared through step 4 and then cooled, covered and chilled for up to 24 hours. Reheat to serve.

Nutrition facts per serving: 148 calories, 10 g total fat, 22 mg cholesterol, 552 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrate, 7 g protein, 184 percent vitamin A, 49 percent vitamin C, 11 percent calcium, 12 percent iron.