Squash and Apple Soup with Horseradish Cream

It was my girlfriend Clare's birthday so my friend Michelle and I decided to throw her a luncheon since a birthday on December 28th often gets overlooked!  We have received quite a dump of snow lately and the cold northerly winds were blowing...so I decided to make soup for lunch!  This has quite a few flavours which work beautifully together, and if you have the time, make the horseradish cream for the top - it awakens the soup!

SQUASH AND APPLE SOUP WITH HORSERADISH CREAM

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced

1 cooking apple, peeled, cored, and diced

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1 onion, finely chopped

2 tsp curry powder

4 cups vegetable stock

1 tsp chopped fresh sage (or 1/2 tsp dried)

2/3 cup apple juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Lime rind for garnish (optional)

Horseradish Cream:

4 tbsp 18% cream

2 tsp horseradish sauce

1/2 tsp curry powder

•   Heat the butter in a large pot.  Add the onion and saute, stirring until soft (approx. 3 to 5 minutes).  Stir in the curry powder, and cook to bring out the flavour.  Stir constantly for 2 minutes to prevent burning and sticking.
• Add the stock, squash, apple and sage.  Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until the squash and apple are soft.
• Meanwhile, make the horseradish cream by beating the cream until it has frothed up, fold in the horseradish sauce and curry until well combined.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Puree the soup in a blender, food processor, or using an immersion blender.  Add apple juice, season with the salt and pepper.  Reheat gently without boiling.
• Serve the soup in bowls topped with a spoonful of the horseradish cream and sprinkled with lime zest!
• ENJOY!

Edamame and Wheat Berry Salad

Although this takes a long time to actually prepare, it is so worth it! The wheat berries are nice and chewy and really make this a satisfying salad. I added red peppers, edamame, celery, feta, garlic scapes and a dressing to make it colourful and flavourful!

WHEAT BERRY & EDAMAME SALAD

Ingredients:

1 (16 ounce) bag frozen edamame
1 cup wheat berries (also called whole wheat kernels)
2 cups vegetable broth

1 red pepper, chopped

1/2 cup crumbled feta

3 chopped green onions, or garlic scapes

2 stalks of celery, finely diced

Dressing:
4 tbsps EVOO
2 tbspss lemon juice
1 tbsp whole grain Dijon mustard
1 tbsps balsamic vinegar
2 tsps dried basil
1 tsp dried dill weed
1 tsp horseradish
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Cook wheat berries in a pressure cooker in broth for 45 minutes, or increase the broth 1/2 cup and bring to boil, then reduce and cover and cook for 2 hours or until liqiud is absorbed and berries are tender.

Cook the shelled edamame in boiling water as package instructions require.

Drain edamame and toss with wheat berries. Remove any excess liquid that is made from this process by straining both together in a collander. Mix in other vegetables.

Wisk all the ingredients for the dressing together and pour over salad. Stir to coat.

Refrigerate after salad has cooled and serve the next day.