Thai Pumpkin Peanut Butter Soup

I experimented with this soup, mixing different recipes until I got this--a nice blend of creamy, sweet, and spiced.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons oil
½ an onion, sliced and chopped thinly
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
14 ounces pumpkin puree
2 cups water
1½ cups coconut milk
¹/₃ cup creamy peanut butter
1½ tablespoons grated lemon rind
salt and pepper to taste
a few pieces of fresh cilantro
optional: chili flakes or chili sauce to taste

Heat the oil and cook the onion in it with the brown sugar and garlic until transparent and soft.

Add the pumpkin, water, coconut milk, peanut butter, and lemon rind.  Stir and cook until all ingredients are mixed and soup is creamy and warm.  Add salt and pepper to taste, as well as chili flakes or sauce if you want it spicy.

Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!

Rica Horchata

A sweet and refreshing Mexican drink--prepare it in the morning and enjoy it as a cool afternoon treat!

 

Ingredients

1 cup white rice

5 cups water

½ cup milk

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Blend the rice and water in a blender for about a minute.  Let sit for at least three hours.

Strain the liquid into a pitcher with a coffee filter or other straining device.  Put the liquid back into the blender and mix in all the other ingredients.  (You can use the soaked rice to make rice pudding if you like.)

Refrigerate and enjoy!