Maple Sweet Potato Soup

Serves 4

Gila

From Rachel Ray’s Show

ingredients

1/2 cup dark maple syrup
1 cup heavy cream
1 cinnamon stick
3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
1 medium onion, halved
4 ribs celery, halved
1 bay leaf
Salt
3 to 4 cups chicken stock, divided (use vegetable stock to make this vegetarian)
1 cup apple cider
A few grates fresh nutmeg
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, removed from stems
A few pinches cayenne pepper
Ground black pepper

directions

1
Place a small pot over medium heat with the syrup, heavy cream and cinnamon stick. Bring the liquid up to a bubble then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened and reduced, about 15 minutes.
2
Place the sweet potatoes, carrots, onion, celery and bay leaf into a medium-size stockpot and cover them with cold water. Season with salt and place over medium-high heat, bringing the liquid to a bubble. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the potatoes until tender, 15-18 minutes.
3
Drain the cooked potatoes and discard the onion, celery and bay leaf. Transfer the potatoes and carrots to a food processor, add a splash of chicken stock and puree until smooth, adding more stock as needed to keep things moving.
4
Return the pureed veggies to the pot they were cooked in and add the cider, remaining stock (add as little or as much as you like to get the consistency you want), nutmeg, thyme, cayenne and some more salt and pepper. Simmer the soup until heated through and thickened slightly, 3-4 minutes. Stir the reduced maple cream into the soup and serve with Griddled Cheddar-Apple Dippers alongside.

notes

Here you are "ringing in" the new year! This was at the Children's Discovery Museum in Sausalito. They had a live band and you and your cousins, Joshua and Chelsea had a great time, while the parents had appetizers and wine at the picnic area.

Source: Gila