Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all! We didn’t want to miss out in an opportunity to celebrate the new year with you! But did you know that in Haiti they are celebrating not just the new year but their Independence Day? So to celebrate we wanted to share with you a traditional soup made first thing in the morning to celebrate this special day for Haiti. The soup is called Soup Joumou…. or pumpkin soup! Enjoy and hoping for the best year yet!

Recipe for Soup Joumou (Pumpkin Soup)

• 2 lbs beef soup bones mixed with beef for soup (1 pound each)
• 2 limes, juice reserved
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt-free blended herbs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/8 teaspoon clove powder
• 1 bouillon cube
• 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
• 2 to 2 1/2 lbs pumpkin & Kabocha squash, peeled & cut into large cubes
• 2 cups of cabbage (about half of a small cabbage sliced)
• 3 medium carrots, peeled & sliced (1 inch round pieces)
• 3 stalks of celery, sliced
• 3 sprigs of parsley
• 2 sprigs of thyme
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/3 cup sliced bell peppers
• 1 scotch bonnet/hot pepper (optional)
• 5 potatoes, peeled & cut in halves
• 1/2 cup Rigatoni past

1. In a large bowl clean beef chunks by pouring the juice of one lime on meat and rubbing each piece thoroughly with lime halves, set aside the juice of the other lime.
2. Rinse meat off with cold water then add salt, blended herbs, seasoned salt and garlic powder. Work spices into meat until well distributed, cover and set aside.
3. Bring 16-18 cups of water to a boil in a large pot on high flame. Once boiled add meat and pumpkin and cook for 20-30 mins or until pumpkin is fork tender.
4. Remove cooked pumpkin and squash from the pot. Using a strainer and a large bowl, place strainer over the bowl and begin to mash pumpkin & squash using a spoon. Use liquid from pot to help get your puree to a smoother consistency while mashing.
5. On a medium flame, pour puree into pot followed by garlic, clove powder, cooking oil and bouillon cube. At this point you can salt to taste to suit your preference
6. Add cabbage, celery, carrots, potatoes, parsley, thyme, hot pepper, bell peppers, onions and stir. Let cook for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
7. Add lime juice and rigatoni and let cook for another 15 to 20 minutes. Serve hot.