A Recipe...and some free advice

Here's a yummy recipe we tried on Sunday.

Pumpkin Soup

8 slices bacon

3 T. olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 medium carrots, chopeed

2 celery stalks, chopped

8 c. water

2 T. chicken bouillon granules

1 can (32 oz.) packed pumpkin

1 T. sugar

1 t. thyme

1 c. milk

1/8 t. nutmeg

salt and pepper to taste

grated cheddar cheese for garnish

parmesan cheese for garnish

1. Cook the bacon in a heavy pot. Remove from heat, crumble, and set aside. In the same pot, mix the oil, onion, carrots, and celery. Saute for 15 minutes. Stir in water, bouillon, pumpkin, sugar, thyme, and crumbled bacon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender.

2. Pour the soup in batches into a blender and puree. Return to the pot. Mix in the milk, nutmet, and curry powder. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. Serves 6-8.

Okay, there's the recipe. Now for the free advice. It has to do with step number 2. Before you pour the soup into the blender, make sure you have drop cloths covering everything and make sure the operator of the blender has a protective face mask on. Or at least make sure you use the LID that came with the BLENDER! Brady had been craving pumpkin soup ever since we ate some on our cruise last January so we finally found a recipe that sounded good and decided to try it. He was the primary chef, I was just the soux (?sp) chef. Our blender lid had a small crack in it and the first time he tried puree-ing the soup it spashed out a little on his hand. I left the room and heard him say, "I think I'm going to try a bowl for a lid." Before I could really register what he was saying, I heard a scream come from the kitchen and I went running in to see the walls, cupboards, tile floor, carpeted floor in the front room, and my husband covered in orange pumpkin soup puree. Brady was leaning over the sink trying to wash it off of his face, where it was burning him it was so hot. I was trying not to cry and really didn't know what to do. While Brady took care of his face I started with the carpet because I knew that would be the most work. The girls quickly came in and grabbed rags and started wiping everything down. We had everything cleaned up in less than an hour and actually sat down and ate the soup after that! Brady and I loved it, the kids hated it. Isn't that how it usually goes? He has taken a little bit of teasing for his blender blunder (that was pretty good!) but GRATEFULLY his face is okay! He had his glasses on which was a blessing to his eyes...his precious eyes that are going to be operated on tomorrow! He is getting LASIK eye surgery in the morning! I can hardly believe it. I am hopefully going to have it done after him...unless I chicken out. We'll see. Anyway, I'm posting a picture of Brady's burn marks, plus one of him in glasses for the last time.