Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

I love the fall season and everything fall flavors!!! Butternut squash is one of those loves. This vegetable pairs amazingly with warm spices and is so comforting to me on a cold fall night. This dish, in particular, is definitely one to warm you up with friends and family and it is easy because you set it and forget it in the crock pot! It will also make the house smell divine if you are having people over for a small gathering.

Not only is this soup easy, it is also “cream-less”. I utilize coconut milk to make this soup “creamy”. Please enjoy my healthy spin on a fall classic, but it will NOT disappoint on flavor…trust me.

Recipe:

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

1 Large Butternut Squash - Peeled, De-Seeded and Small Chopped (around 8 cups)

OR 3 - 1 lb ALREADY CUT Butternut Squash

2 Small Yellow Onions - Diced (around 2 cups)

4 cups Unsalted Beef Broth

2 cups Unsalted Chicken Broth

1 Sprig Fresh Sage (4-5 leaves on sprig)

1/2 tsp Ground Ginger

1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper

1/2 cup Low-Fat Coconut Milk

Optional Toppings/Ingredients:

4-5 cups Chopped Stale Bread (for croutons)

1 1/2 cup Raw Pepita Seeds

1 Package Applewood Smoked Bacon

Spray Olive Oil

Salt

Directions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients besides the coconut milk and “optional toppings” in the slow-cooker. Cook for 5 hours on High!

2. 40 minutes before the soup is finished, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place your cut bread on one sheet tray and your peptita seeds on the other. Spray your bread with oil and season with salt. Place both trays in the oven and cook until browned (the pipitas will cook faster, so be sure to watch them!). Season the peptias with salt once roasted. Set both pepitas and croutons aside for later toppings.

3. Cook the bacon on the stovetop on medium-high heat until desired doneness is achieved. Chop it up and set aside for a topping for later.

4. Once the soup is done cooking, remove the sage sprig and using an immersion blender, puree until smooth! Add the 1/2 cup coconut milk and blend until evenly incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Serve immediately with the toppings and maybe a side of toasted sourdough bread and butter!