Rachel'S Favorite Butternut Sqash Soup

• To make the stock:
• 1 yellow onion, sliced
• 1 leek, cleaned and chopped, including the green top
• 6 garlic cloves crushed in their skin
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1 large potatoes, sliced
• 1 celery root, peeled and sliced
• 2 parsnips, peeled and sliced
• 1/4 bunch italian parsley, including stems, chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons dried porcini or shitake mushrooms
• 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2-3 sprigs of fresh herbs (oregano, sage and thyme)
• Clean peelings from the butternut squash, no stems
• 9 cups of cold water
• To make the soup:
• 3-4 cups vegetable stock
• 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 6 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into large chunks
• 1 apple or pear , peeled, cored and cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup high quality apple juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper

1. To prepare the stock:
2. In a covered stock pot cook the onion, garlic, leek and salt for 10-15 minutes in just enough water to keep them from sticking. Add remaining ingredients and simmer low for about I hour. Pour through a strainer and discard the solids. Return to heat and cook uncovered over low heat until reduced by about one third.
3. To prepare the soup:
4. Heat the oil in a soup pot and add the onion, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of pepper. Saute over medium heat until the onion begins to caramelize (about 10-15 minutes). Scrape with a wooden spoon and add a little bit of stock if it sticks to the pot too much. Add the squash, apple or pear, one teaspoon of salt and just enough stock to cover the squash and fruit. Cover and cook over medium heat for 20-30 minutes or until the squash is very soft. Puree the soup in a blender or food processor and return to the pot. Add the apple juice and enough stock to thin the soup the desired consistency. Cover the pot and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes.

yellow onion, garlic, celery, carrot, potatoes, celery root, parsnips, italian parsley, porcini, peppercorns, salt, herbs, butternut squash, water, vegetable stock, yellow onion, butternut squash, apple, apple juice, olive oil, salt

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/rachels-favorite-butternut-sqash-soup-1202933 (may not work)