Savory Soup Adds Southwestern Spice

Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Most people think "sweet" when pumpkin comes to mind, but if you've never tasted a savory pumpkin recipe, you've been missing something delicious!  This concoction combines pumpkin with flavors usually associated with Southwestern food:  green chiles, cumin, cayenne and more.  Add the sour cream and cilantro mixture, give it a whirl, and you have a taste sensation that is not to be ignored.  

Spice it Up!

Savor These Flavors

Southwestern Pumpkin Soup Recipe

adapted from TLC Cooking

1  4 oz. can green chiles

1/4 cup light sour cream

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1  15 oz. can pumpkin

1 3/4 cups fat-free chicken broth

1/2 cup water

1 t ground cumin

1/2 t chili powder

1/4 t garlic powder

1/8 t cayenne

Additional sour cream

Add Southwestern Spices

Combine sour cream, chiles and cilantro in food processor or blender; process until smooth. Combine pumpkin, chicken broth, water, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and cayenne in saucepan.  Add 1/4 cup of sour cream/green chile mixture.  Heat until soup boils and reduce heat to medium.  Simmer uncovered 5 minutes.  

Stir All Ingredients Until Boiling

 Add dollops of remaining sour cream/green chile mixture and a bit of additional sour cream.  Run spoon through dollops to swirl.  Enjoy!

Serve Soup with a Cheesy Quesadilla and Black Beans

Warm Up, Chill Out

Pumpkin Latte

What could be more cozy than being curled up on a cool fall morning with a seasonal drink in hand?  On a relaxed weekend, the last thing I want to do is jump in the car and wait in a long line at the local coffee shop for a spiced latte.  With a few ingredients on hand, and no special equipment required, the only thing compulsory in acquiring this latte is about 5 minutes in the kitchen!  Warm up, chill out and enjoy!

Pumpkin Latte

2 cups milk

2 T canned pumpkin

3 T sugar

2 T vanilla

1 t pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup strong coffee

Whipped cream
Additional pumpkin pie spice for topping

Combine milk, pumpkin and sugar in saucepan and stir over heat medium heat; keep from scalding.  Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice.  Place mixture in a blender to froth, or use a whisk to froth by hand. 

Divide mixture into 2 coffee mugs and carefully pour coffee along the side of the cup to preserve froth.







Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with additional spice if desired.  To reduce calorie count, make this a skinnier latte by using non-fat milk and no topping.