Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger

Here is a delicious fall recipe for Butternut squash and ginger soup.  We Chinese medicine practitioners say that this soup helps "Tonify the Spleen Qi", which translates into stronger digestion, greater energy levels, and increased ability to process information.  The ingredients that specifically help with the spleen qi are squash, ginger and cinnamon.

Ingredients

• 2 each butternut squash (about 4 3/4 pounds total), halved lengthwise, seeded

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil

• 2 cups thinly sliced onion

• 1 tablespoon golden brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

• 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

• 1/2 cinnamon stick

• 5 cups (or more) water or chicken broth, according to preference

• Chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil baking sheet. Place squash, cut side down, on baking sheet. Bake until squash is very soft, about 50 minutes. Using paring knife, remove peel from squash; discard peel. Cut squash into 2-inch pieces. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-low heat. Mix in onion, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and cinnamon. Cover pot and cook until onion is tender, about 15 minutes. Add squash and 5 cups chicken broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Discard cinnamon.

Working in batches, purée soup in blender, or just mash it with a spoon and eat it a little lumpy. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate.) Return soup to pot. Season soup with salt. Bring to simmer, thinning soup with more broth if necessary. Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.