Pumpkin Cheddar Cheese Soup

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a baking sheet.

Prepare pumpkin: cut off the top, scoop out seeds, brush inside with about 2 T melted butter. Replace top and place pumpkin on baking sheet.

Bake 45 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. The pumpkin should be a bit droopy but still hold its shape well.

Meanwhile, melt about 2 T butter in a big saucepan. Add onion, carrots, celery. Saute until soft, about 10 minutes. Add broth, garlic, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.

Cool slightly. Puree vegetable mixture in 2 or 3 batches in a blender or food processor. Put back in saucepan; stir in the cream. Reheat. Add cheese and wine, heat until cheese melts. Stir frequently after adding milk to avoid scorching. Place hot pumpkin on serving platter. Pour in soup. Sprinkle with parsley.

Serve the soup by ladling out of the pumpkin at the table, scooping a little bit of pumpkin into each serving. The pumpkin then makes a great centerpiece for your table, while allowing people to have second helpings.

cook's notes

you can use half gruyere and half cheddar. Shred the cheeses very finely so they will melt rapidly. After the soup is all gone, the pumpkin can be cut up, washed, and used in pumpkin pie. It may need more baking to become soft enough to puree for the pies.