Butternut Squash Soup With Apple Cider Cream

• 6 tablespoons butter
• 2 1/2 - 3 pounds butternut squash, peeled, halved, and seeded, then cut into 1 inch cubes
• 2 cups leeks, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 cups vegetable broth
• 1 1/2 cups apple cider, divided
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• Fresh chives or parsley, chopped

1. In a large heavy bottomed saucepan, melt butter.
2. Add squash, leeks, carrot, and celery. Cook for approximately 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened.
3. Stir in apples, thyme, sage, and salt. Add broth and 1 cup of the apple cider. Bring soup to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, bring remaining 1/2 cup apple cider to boil in a small saucepan. Reduce by about half (it will take approximately 5 minutes). Let mixture cool and whisk in sour cream. Set aside.
5. Once soup is done, let it cool slightly, then puree using a food processor or immersion blender. Stir in heavy cream.
6. Serve soup with a little apple cider cream drizzled on top and with chives or parsley as garnish.

butter, butternut squash, leeks, carrot, celery stalks, thyme, sage, salt, vegetable broth, apple cider, heavy cream, sour cream, fresh chives

Taken from food52.com/recipes/35399-butternut-squash-soup-with-apple-cider-cream (may not work)