Butternut Squash and Bacon Soup

When cooler weather arrives, Butternut Squash and Bacon Soup is one of the first things you will want to make.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound bacon, diced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 (2 pound) butternut squash
• 1 ham bone with meat or ham slice, cut up
• 1 quart (4 cups) chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. Peel squash; cut into chunks. Place in soup kettle with ham bone or ham. Add chicken broth and water to cover. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes until squash is tender.
2. Meanwhile, fry bacon until crisp; drain and set aside.
3. In bacon fat, saute onion and garlic for 3 to 5 minutes; drain and set aside.
4. When squash is cooked, remove ham bone and return any ham meat to kettle. Add onion and garlic. Process or blend until smooth. Return to kettle. Add seasonings. Heat and serve with crumbled bacon as garnish.