Wednesday was my birthday and I got a lot phone calls and messages from my friends and family….It is wonderful to know that people care about you. Thank you all for being there for me whenever I need to talk.
I was chatting with one of my good friends and because another year has past, we started to talk about things we want to do before we die! It was fun talking about all those things with her. At the risk of sounding morbid, I want to share some of them with you and I would love to know what’s on your bucket list.
Things I must do before I “kick the bucket”:
Be able to speak perfect English, so American people can understand what I say the first time:-)
Go to Italy, England, Spain, and France.
Visit every department (State) in Colombia.
Write a cookbook.
Own an apartment in Medellin-Colombia for vacation.
Get back to a size 0 jeans 
Take a photography course and take amazing pictures.
Now let me share with you this wonderful Butternut Squash-Coconut Soup I made a week ago that we loved.
Ingredients
(6 servings)
2 butternut squash
Olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
4 cups stock
Salt and pepper
1 can coconut milk
3 tablespoons honey
Directions
1. Preheat an oven to 375ºF.
2.Cut the squash in half lengthwise and remove and discard the seeds. Brush the squash inside and out with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place the squash, cut side down, on a baking sheet.
3.Roast the squash until a sharp knife penetrates the flesh easily, about 1 hour.
4. Meanwhile, in a pot over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the onions and garlic and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes.
5.Transfer the squash to the pot and add the stock. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Add the cumin, honey and coconut milk and stir to combine.
6.Using a blender, puree the soup in batches until smooth. Return the soup to the pot. Add more broth if needed to reach the desired consistency.
7.Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish each serving with crispy bacon. Serve immediately.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
oh yum! this sounds like a great combination of flavors!
Happy belated!! That’s a pretty good list (except the size 0)!
First that soup has great taste points. I love coconut and need to incorporate it more when I develop dishes.
Good luck on the bucket list — and I hope you’re feeling well!
Feliz Cumpleanos! Espero que la hayas pasado fenomenal! Con que torta de cantaron el ‘sapo berday’?
Cuantos cumpliste (si no te molesta que pregunte)?
Paula
Happy (belated) B’day!! You need to turn your posts into a book soon, your recipes are amazingly delicious, and the world needs to learn about them
hmmm write the cookbook and fit into the jeans? I think its an either or! But I would surely buy your cookbook! My husband and I love your recipes!
And the accent? As long as the people who love you understand it! (I have a Colombian husband and I know his accent is really strange to most people! I am used to it…maybe some words, but eh, its okay! its part of your heritage!)
The soup looks great! But getting my husband to eat something that is vegetable based is impossible! Maybe for a girls night in!
And happy birthday!
Good soup, I have made a pumpkin coconut muffins before so I know the flavour combinations are great!
Hi Erica, Happy belated Birthday to you! Love this comforting soup, so healthy too.
Feliz Cumpleanos and many more. You and your soups…I just love them.
Thank you guys!!!!
Happy Belated Birthday! I Love Coconut So I’m Definitely Making This One!
Happy Belated Birthday! This soup looks delicious!
Happy belated birthday! I like that you made this soup with coconut milk, terrific idea!
Happy belated birthday to you. Wow – size “0″ jeans – I am trying to get back to a size “10.” Now the soup – the squash soup – yes on all accounts. Noting it, bookmarking it and celebrating it for our chilly days when squash is so abundant.
Happy Birthday Erica!
I wasn’t a size zero the day I was born, let alone now.
Love the coconut milk in your soup…going to sub that in mine this year.
I hope you had a wonderful birthday, Erica! The soup looks really wonderful, squash and coconut is such a delicious pair!
great soup and wonderful bucket list! good luck with that size zero goal…
Feliz cumpleanos! and you are welcomed in france!
Erica – I hope your birthday was a wonderful one! I’d like to do a lot of traveling too, many of the same places you’d like to visit. I’d also like to get a job doing something with food, not sure what yet. I have never been a size zero, but I would like to get back to a size 6 or even an 8.
Your soup is beautiful with the bacon garnish on top. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family here in the states.
Thank you everyone!
I made this soup. Was it me or did it make A LOT of soup? I think about 15 cups!! Well, my boyfriend helped me eat some of it this weekend. I like the bacon with it, and I added a dollop of sour cream which hit the spot. At first, I wasn’t sure but with that addition, it was a hit worth making again.
Making this soup tonight! So excited to try this one out. I am obsssesed with your pea soup. I added kale, spinach and broccoli and my son loves it! Thanks for sharing. Please post more of your crema soups!
I made this soup and it was wonderful. This recipe is a keeper!!!