Who wouldn’t cheat. Seriously, fall seasonals take FOREVER to chop, prep, and serve (15 minutes of excitement for a DAYS WORTH OF prep…I’ll opt out). That being said, I love all things pumpkin/acorn squash/butternut squash. So I found my workaround.

1. Pre-chopped butternut squash
2. Pre-chopped onions (WHO KNEW!…$2.99 for 10 oz of pre-chopped onions…definitely worth it for me)
3. Minced garlic in a jar

Done.

The recipe: http://www.chow.com/recipes/30466-roasted-butternut-squash-soup

I modified it

4 pounds whole butternut squash (about 2 medium), halved lengthwise and seeds removed 2lb bag of pre-chopped butternut squash (from Trader Joes)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick)
1 medium Granny Smith apple (about 8 ounces) –>We used whatever red apple we had on hand
1/2 medium yellow onion 1/2 c pre-chopped onions
8 fresh sage leaves 1 t Rosemary (dried)
2 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
1/2 t Kosher Salt
1/8 t pepper
1/4c Heavy Whipping Cream

Recipe boils down to: Roast–>Simmer–>blend
Pre-heat your oven to 425

ROAST for 1 hour:
1. Roast squash, chopped apple (I left the skin on), and onion in a pan.
-I lined 2 9×9 glass pans with foil
-I also put one tablespoon of butter in each glass pan.
-I put a dash or so of Rosemary in each pan

Simmer/Melt flavors 15-18 minutes
1. Put roasted stuff in pot
2. Add 2.5 c broth
3. Add salt and pepper
4. Add the rest of the Rosemary

Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 15 minutes to meld the flavors

Blend.
1. Add the Heavy Whipping Cream
2. Blend with stick blender

IT WAS AMAZING.