Recipe for Butternut Squash Soup

Anne Burrell is a trained chef and the star of two Food Network programs: Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and her newest project, Worst Cooks in America, which puts twelve hopeless cooks from around the U.S. through a challenging culinary boot camp. Worst Cooks in America will be back for a second season premiering in January 2011.

Ingredients:
For Soup
Serves 4 to 6
Olive oil
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 large or 2 small carrots, peeled and cut in 1/2-inch dice
2 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped
Kosher salt
1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups white wine
2 quarts chicken or vegetable stock
1 bundle thyme
2 bay leaves
1 orange, cut in 1/2

Preparation:
1. Coat a large pot over medium-high heat with olive oil. Add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Season with salt, to taste, and sweat the veggies until they start to soften and are very aromatic, about 7 to 8 minutes.

2. Add the squash and potato cubes and season with salt, to taste. Stir to coat the mixture with the oil and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes. Add the wine and reduce by half.

3. Add the stock, thyme and bay leaves. Squeeze the orange into the soup and add both halves. Taste for seasoning and adjust, if needed. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and simmer until the squash is falling apart, about 35 to 40 minutes. If the liquid level starts to get too low, water can be used to replace it.

4. Remove and discard the orange halves, thyme bundle and bay leaves and purée the soup with an immersion blender or a blender. If using a blender, cool the mixture for about 5 minutes and carefully add it to the blender. It should be very smooth and velvety. Check the consistency. If it is too thick add water to thin it.

Ingredients for For the Cinnamon Whipped Cream and Fried Shallots:
Peanut or other neutrally flavored oil, for frying
2 large shallots
1 cup all-purpose flour
Kosher salt
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation:
1. In a saucepan heat about 1 inch of the oil over medium heat. Peel and slice the shallots into thin rings. Just before frying, toss the shallots in the flour, shaking off excess. Fry the shallots until they are crispy and brown. Remove to a paper towel and sprinkle immediately with salt.

2. Whip the cream in a large bowl until it holds its shape in soft peaks, then whip in the cinnamon.

To Serve Ladle the soup into serving bowls and top with a dollop of the cinnamon whipped cream and fried shallots. Squashy!!!