CJ's RECIPES

Just in time for the holidays, here's his Creamy Pumpkin/Applesauce Soup.

Creamy Pumpkin/Applesauce Soup

One thing that’s always good at C.J.’s Café is his soup. It’s usually filling, down-home good and easy to prepare. Holiday time, cold weather and a variety of winter squashes, including pumpkins, make this recipe a cinch to fix and to please. Feeds 6 to 8, depending upon how hungry. Enjoy!

Ingredients
28-ounce can solid pack pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
28-ounce can chicken broth or water (fill the empty pumpkin can)
¼ cup honey or maple syrup
Salt and pepper to taste
Add 1 cup cream as desired
Add cinnamon to taste
Optional Garnish-- Chopped parsley
Sugared nuts

Method

Combine the pumpkin, water or broth, applesauce and heat through. Add the sweetener and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the cream just before serving and garnish.

C.J. serves as Bridget's sounding board, doubling at times as her advising Dutch uncle. The retired longshoreman has a knack with making good soups at his cafe at St. Mary's Corner. Some of his recipes, however, would not make the haute cuisine section, but are more down-to-earth, homespun.