If you like creamy soups with just a touch of spice, Butternut Squash Bisque with Bacon is it! Normally a bisque is very creamy but we wanted to add just a bit of texture by leaving some small chunks of roasted butternut squash. When the bisque is ready to serve we like to drop a dollop of sour cream on top and then a sprinkle some bacon bits to add a nice salty crunch.
I’ve been meaning to sit down and finish the butternut squash bisque post for almost a week. What have I been doing? Well, I’ve been trying to figure out the ins and outs of Lightroom and Photoshop and get away from my crutch — PicMonkey. If you’re not familiar with photography, Lightroom and Photoshop are photo editing programs that can create miracles, or so I’ve been told. To be honest, I’ve witnessed the power of both programs but for some reason that power eludes me.
I promised myself that November would be the month that I learned the two programs and start using them for my food photography edits. Unfortunately I’m also trying to figure out how to use the Manual mode on the camera and shoot in RAW. When I told my Honey that I had to shoot in RAW for the two programs, he got a gleam in his eyes. I had to explain that the camera does the RAW thing and it all has to do with the quality of the editing.
I know– too much information– I can feel your eyes glazing over.
Well, to accomplish my goal I went back to listening and watching my videos on LR and PS. As I watched, I nodded my head in perfect understanding. Everything seemed amazingly clear. I got all excited about using the information. I knew this info would turn my photos into extra-ordinary yummy representations of our dishes. I couldn’t wait for the instructor to finish the instruction so I can get to it! The minute the video screen went black I opened up Lightroom. I pulled up a photo of the Butternut squash bisque.
Okay, so far, it went according to the instructions. The photo was now in what is known as the Library module — believe me it’s a whole different language. I knew I was supposed to go from there to the Develop module — that’s where all the magic happened. I looked at the new screen and froze. I didn’t remember a thing. Did the instructor say to take care of the white balance first or was it the exposure? No, no it was the blacks, or was it the whites? I started messing first with one slider and then another. You see, the adjustments are sliders. Argh!! Oh my heavens, the photo ended up looking so bad I had to reset. How frustrating! I did this several times and each time I had to hit reset.
*sigh* I was back to square one.
But I’m a stubborn Italian. I will conquer Lightroom and Photoshop, just not this time! And since I wanted this post out before Thanksgiving because the Butternut Squash Bisque with Bacon would make a delicious first course, I knew I needed to go back to my old reliable photo editor — PicMonkey.
Tutti a tavola è pronto.
Un caro saluto e alla prossima.
Butternut Squash Bisque With Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. butternut squash peeled and diced into 3/4" pieces
- 3 strips bacon diced, fried and set aside on paper towels
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 medium carrot peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth vegan
- 1/3 cup dry white wine
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons sage finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes more or less according to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/3 cup half and half
- sea salt and freshly grated black pepper to taste
- Sour cream garnish
- Bacon bits will be sprinkled on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F. Place squash, onion, carrot and garlic in a roasting pan with herbs. Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Roast 40 minutes until the squash is soft.
- Place vegetables in a soup pot or Dutch oven. Add broth, wine, allspice and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Remove from heat. If you'd like some texture to your soup, remove some squash chunks, about 1 cup, with a slotted spoon and set aside. Puree the soup using a stick blender or in a regular blender.
- Pour back into the pot or Dutch oven and stir in the half and half. Add the squash chunks to the soup. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- To serve: ladle soup in bowls and add dollops of sour cream in center then sprinkle bacon bits top.
Nutrition
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Veena Azmanov says
Oh soup season in just getting in now.. I made our first winter soup yesterday. Was so good to start eating soup again. So comforting..Nothing beats a creamy delicious soup like this one.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Well comfort food/soup season is just around the corner. This looks and sound delicious. Perfect for a cool fall day, and it would make some might fine leftovers too!! I love cooking in my dutch oven.
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
Yum, I love butternut squash soups, bacon is a great addition, this sounds delicious!
Marisa Franca says
It is good and you’re right – the bacon adds that saltiness and crunch!
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal says
This recipe sounds so savory and flavorful! Leaning photo editing is so challenging and it takes so much practice and trial and error! You’ll get there! Keep up the good work!
Marisa Franca says
Thank you! And I agree that it does take work — I get so excited for the people who get their photos featured on the sites such as Foodgawker and Tastespotting. Hopefully one day . . .
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy says
This soup looks lovely! Love all the flavors you have here!! Gorgeous pictures too!
Claudia | Gourmet Project says
oh… that crunchy bacon!
Pink Camellias says
This sounds so yummy. I have to say I am biased, though – I think everything tastes better with bacon!!!!
Marisa Franca says
I am so with you — also pancetta and prosciutto. 🙂
Camilla says
I completely understand your feelings about these programs as I sat in front of one of them and it was so un-user friendly I ran back to Photoscape which I find does a really fab job and was a step up from a basic programme I was using before, probably wrong word but hey I’m not a techy! Love you soup, butternut was made for soup:-)
Marisa Franca says
I agree– butternut squash was made for soup! And I figure that I will eventually learn the programs as well as all of the capabilities of my camera then I’ll be ready for a fancy dSLR. Have a great weekend and I’m glad I’m not the only one who can’t pick up LR and PS right away.
LydiaF says
I am in the same boat as you with regard to photo software, my dear. Luckily we have this gorgeous bisque to console ourselves 🙂
Marisa Franca says
You’re right!! I think I’ll console my self now with a double bowl of soup!! Thank you for commenting.
Choclette says
Oh, I feel your pain. There is always so much to learn and it can be so incredible frustrating. Everyone keeps telling me I need to get Lightroom, but I’ve only just got a proper digital camera and it’s hard enough trying to learn that!
I adore squash soup of any kind BTW and your photos look pretty enticing to me.
Marisa Franca says
I wish I did have a proper dSLR. Mine can do just about everything a dSLR will do but I can’t switch lens 🙁 I figure I can learn all of the ins and outs and then progress, hopefully.And thank you for your kind comment.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
I would do anything for a bowl of this right now.
Marisa Franca says
I wish I could send you one! Next time we make it I’ll save some for you 🙂
Chiara says
the sour cream on the top is perfect ! Have a good day my dear, un abbraccio
Marisa Franca says
Thank you Chiara!! Buona giornata e ti mando un abbraccio.
Ali @ Home & Plate says
I think this is the way to make this bisque. I would definitely need the salty of the bacon to cut the sweet. Love the addition of all the herbs. Sounds wonderful.
Marisa Franca says
Thank you for commenting! It is a good soup and we like the touch of the red pepper flakes because that also cuts the sweetness. I hate to admit this but I think I could have eaten the whole pot — the soup in it not the pot 🙂
annie@ciaochowbambina says
This is one of my favorite soups! And your pictures are awesome, but believe me – once you conquer the others – you will have some fun! It’s a never ending process….I’m still learning and loving it!
Marisa Franca says
Thank you Annie!! I know I’ll get better — and I do love learning. Your photos are simply fantastic.
Jovina Coughlin says
I think you photos look great, Marisa. I just use the photo capabilities of my website host, Word Press. Works for me.
Most importantly, your bisque looks divine. I love butternut squash in soup and your recipe looks very special, perfect for a Thanksgiving first course.
Marisa Franca says
Thank you Jovina. As I mentioned I have a preconceived idea of what I want my photos to look like and I’m not getting it but I’ll keep trying. And I do have to admit the bisque was delicious! I wish it would have made a humongous batch — I’d still be slurping on it.
Sarah says
Learning new technology can be SO hard! I know that I can get pretty distracted over things like that. Thankfully it is just case of getting better over time. As for the soup, this sounds delicious and of course I love the bacon in it!
Marisa Franca says
Thank you Sarah! Technology and I just don’t get along. You know the saying about teaching old dogs new tricks. The soup is good and so very simple. I imagine it would make an elegant first course. Thank you for commenting.
Wendi says
I knew if I came and checked this out it would be delish! I bet the bacon is the PERFECT addition! I need to learn Lightroom and Photoshop too – there is so much to do that it is hard to make time to learn something new – especially when you feel pretty confident about using what you have been using. I’m right there with you.
Marisa Franca says
Hi Wendi!! It was so very good I wanted the photo to reflect it. One of the photo e-books talks about telling a story with your photo. Well, my story was stuttering and going nowhere so I cried Uncle and called on PicMonkey. But I am not giving up. I will let you know what videos/books helped me the most. That is if I get there 🙂