Sopa De Ajo Con Flor De Calabaza / Garlic Soup With Squash Blossoms

• 1 1/2 tablespoons 11/2 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 tablespoons 11/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 heads of garlic, cloves separated and thinly sliced
• 16 fresh squash flowers, cleaned, with sepals, stems, and pistils removed
• 2 medium hierba santa leaves, rib removed and cut into strips, or 1/2 bunch watercress with a nice shot of Pernod or anisette
• 1 dried chile de arbol, or chile japones
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 cups fresh chicken stock
• Sea salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 bolillo or other french bread, cut into 1/2 inch square chunks to make 2 cups croutons
• 5 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, stems removed and leaves finely chopped
• 1/4 pound quesillo or gouda cheese, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 8 organic eggs (optional)

1. In a heavy 4-quart stockpot, over low heat, melt the butter and olive oil together and saute the garlic slowly, stirring so it does not brown, for about 15 minutes or until soft and translucent.
2. Add the squash flowers and hierba santa or watercress leaves and saute 3 minutes longer, stirring lightly, taking care not to break up the squash flowers. Add the chile, bay leaf, and chicken stock. Simmer, covered, for 45 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, toast the bread cubes in a hot 400u0b0F oven or in a dry frying pan until brown.
4. Five minutes before serving, season soup with sea salt and pepper and add the parsley.
5. In the bottom of each soup bowl, place 5 bread cubes and 5 cheese cubes. Ladle the soup over the bread and cheese, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.
6. Or if serving the eggs, carefully break open the eggs, one at a time, on a flat plate and slip them into the hot broth. Spoon a poached egg into each serving bowl, add the cheese and the bread cubes, ladle soup over all, and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
7. Excerpted from Seasons of My Heart, A Culinary Journey Through Oaxaca, Mexico rn(Ballantine Books, November 1999, ISBN 0-345-42596-0)

butter, olive oil, garlic, flowers, santa, uerbol, bay leaf, chicken, salt, bolillo, parsley, ubc pound quesillo, parmesan cheese, eggs

Taken from food52.com/recipes/7560-sopa-de-ajo-con-flor-de-calabaza-garlic-soup-with-squash-blossoms (may not work)