Serves 6.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
4 medium carrots, peeled, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon curry powder- mild or hot, to taste
Dash of sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 14.5-oz. can pumpkin (or 2 heaping cups fresh, peeled and cubed)
1 medium sweet potato, peeled, cubed
6 cups light vegetable broth
2-3 tablespoons dry sherry or white wine, if desired
1/2 can coconut milk, to taste (light coconut milk is an option)

Instructions:

In a heavy soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat, and sauteé the onion for about 5 minutes until softened.
Add in the chopped carrots and celery, and stir in the spices. Lower heat and gently cook for about 10 minutes, being careful not to brown the onions.

Add in the pumpkin, sweet potato and vegetable broth, and sherry; stir together.
Cover and bring to a slow simmer, cooking the soup for about 25-35 minutes until the vegetables are very tender.

Remove from heat, and puree the soup with an immersion hand blender right in the pot; or puree it batches in a blender or food processor (carefully ladle the soup into a blender not more than half full, cover tightly and puree the soup until it is smooth and creamy; return the puree to soup pot).

Taste and adjust the seasonings.
Return the pot to low-medium heat. Stir in the coconut milk and blend till smooth. Warm through gently for ten minutes- don’t boil it.