Low-Carb Recipe: Perfect Pumpkin Soup

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and enjoyed a wonderful time with family and friends! Now comes the less fun part: dealing with all those leftovers!

We can all come up with lots of things to do with leftover turkey, but what about that extra can of pumpkin that you didn't use for the pie? Here's a simple recipe that will warm you up and satisfy your craving for something warm, spicy, and savory that you can make in a jiffy for a quick supper tonight after being on your feet in the kitchen all day yesterday.  Keep in mind that this soup is rich and meant to enjoy in small portions, not large bowls, although you may find it hard to resist. :-)

Enjoy!

Perfect Pumpkin Soup

1 Tbsp olive or coconut oil
1 small onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic - chopped or grated
1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 Tbsp ground coriander seed
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup half-and-half or cream

Directions:

• In a large soup pot, combine oil and onion over medium heat and cook until soft.
• Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 minute, then add the other spices, and stir together.
• Pour in the wine, and stir, cooking for 1 minute.
• Add the pumpkin puree and broth, stir and cook until heated through, about 4 or 5 minutes.
• To make soup smooth, remove from heat and let cool slightly, then pour into food processor.  Blend until smooth, then return to pot. (Or use a stick blender if you have one.)
• Put soup pot on low heat and bring back up to hot, but do not boil.
• Remove from heat and pour in half-and-half, stir, and taste for salt and other seasonings and add more if desired.  You may also add a touch of sugar if you like to bring up the sweetness level. Cover and let stand 5 minutes so flavors blend well.
• Serve warm with garnishes like roasted pumpkin seeds, crispy bacon crumbles, a dollop of yogurt or sour cream, and chives or parsley.
• You can easily double or triple this recipe for a larger crowd.  You will need to process it in several batches in the food processor if you do.

Holiday Recipe: Easy Maple-Glazed Ham

If you want a great recipe for a Christmas ham, try this simple one. Just a few unique ingredients provide a great flavor that your whole family will remember! (Try to find a naturally cured ham if you can, and make sure to use real maple syrup - none of that flavored corn syrup junk.) This makes for a great main dish for your Christmas dinner.

Easy Maple-Glazed Ham

(Photo credit: Another Pint Please...)

Ingredients:

10 pound natural hickory-smoked ham, fully cooked
3/4 c. real maple syrup
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp white vinegar
3 Tbsp bourbon
1 Tbsp whole cloves

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Put ham cut side down in a shallow baking dish and form a tent with aluminum foil, loosely sealing.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.
4. In a glass bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, dry mustard, white vinegar, and bourbon, and set aside.
5. When ham is done, remove from oven, take off foil, and turn ham over in the baking pan so you are looking at the fatty side.
6. With a sharp paring knife, cut shallow criss-cross pattern (like tic-tac-toe) into the fatty side, in about 1/2 to 1 inch square shapes.
7. Stick a single whole clove in the center of each square you made.
8. Whisk the glaze again, then pour evenly over the top of the fatty side of the ham, over the cloves, and put back in the oven (uncovered) for about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.  You can ladle the glaze in the pan back over the ham once during the cooking time.
9. Remove and let stand for 10 minutes, slice and serve warm, with pan drippings poured over each slice if desired.

Recipe: Company-Ready Deviled Eggs

Nothing disappears faster at a potluck than the good old classic - the deviled egg. Perfect for office parties, or holiday gatherings, deviled eggs are fairly cheap and easy to prepare, and you know there won't be many leftovers! This recipe puts a gourmet twist on the old standby, with avocados and capers accented with cumin and lime juice, and is sure to get lots of compliments from your co-workers.

Company-Ready Deviled Eggs
(Makes 24.)

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

12 large eggs, hard cooked
1 ripe avocado, peeled and diced
1 lime, zested and juiced
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cayenne
1 Tbsp capers, finely chopped
1/2 tsp salt
finely chopped flat leaf parsley and paprika for garnish

Directions:

1. Peel the eggs, then cut in half lengthwise. Remove the yolks to a bowl and set the whites on a nice platter or plate.
2. Add diced avocado, lime zest, and lime juice to the yolks and smash together with a fork or a pastry cutter.
3. When mixture is smooth (you really don't want this to be chunky) add the mayo, mustard, cumin, cayenne, and capers, and mix together until smooth again. Spoon this mixture into the egg white halves on the platter. 
4. Sprinkle the chopped parsley and paprika over each one for garnish and color.