We’re suddenly launching into autumn here in California. We’ve swung from (really) hot sunny days to changing skies, and a bite in the air. It’s a subtle change, but one that ushers in the familiar changes, sights, and smells of fall. Autumn is my favorite season of the year, a pause after all the high energy go-go days of the summer, that starts to turn my thoughts back to home.
Autumn is a ramp up to Christmas and celebrates family and friends-that-are-like-family with Halloween and Thanksgiving as it’s ‘high’ holidays. A time to exhale, pick up the threads of the patterns of life, and gather at the dinner table again. Here are a few things I always associate with the autumn. What are some of yours?
Shorter days
Changing skies bringing new gray clouds
Crisp evenings with leftover warmth from the day
Huge glowing harvest moons close to the horizon
Hayrides sitting on bales of hay
Brightly colored maples and aspens
Raking leaves into big piles to jump into
Ironing red maple leaves between wax paper
Squash! Piles of pumpkins, butternut, kabocha, acorn, delicata waiting to be roasted
Back to school
Soft corduroys with heavy socks
Warm comfort food
Soup
Bonfires
The harvest
Football
Burgundy chrysanthemums
Tailgate parties
Cozy dinners with family and friends
And the color orange
This week I’m joining #SundaySupper to celebrate All Things Orange. It seems so specific, but the possibilities are darn near endless….savory, sweet, baked goods to breakfast dishes, if the main ingredient is that magical fall color, it will fit in perfectly!
This soup is one I started making last year when I started experimenting with my Apple Cider Syrup. It went through a number of versions until I finally landed on this one. By the time I had it to my liking, autumn was done, winter half over. So I’ve been keeping it in the back of my mind just waiting for autumn to roll around again. It’s super easy, and very healthy with all the sweet potatoes.
Cider Spiced Sweet Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 5 sweet potatoes (about 4 1/2 cups once it’s baked)
- 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter
- 1 red onion, finely chopped (about 1 ½ cups)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 40 ounces veggie broth
- 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Syrup
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Bake the sweet potatoes in the microwave oven or via your favorite baking method. Allow to cool, peel and chop. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the red onion and thyme and sauté until the onions are very soft.
Add the orange juice, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the veggie broth and bring back to a simmer. Add the potatoes and simmer for 10 minutes. Puree the soup using an immersible blender, food processor, or blender. If using a food processor or blender, return the soup to the pot and add the Apple Cider Syrup and salt to taste.
Serve hot.
Take a look at all of the fabulous dishes being offered up this week by the #SundaySupper family:
Sunrise (Breakfast and Brunch)
Paula from Vintage Kitchen Notes is bringing her Orange Ricotta Pancakes
Erin from Dinners Dishes and Desserts is baking up some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Heather from Girlichef is bringing Pumpkin Doughnuts with Spiced Buttermilk Glaze
Nicole from Daily Dish Recipes is making Pumpkin Donut Puffs
Patti from Comfy Cuisine is bringing Classic Orange Marmalade
Sunithi from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz is making Spiced Pumpkin Ricotta Muffins with Craisins and Walnuts
Wendy from The Weekend Gourmet is cooking up some Pumpkin Maple Oatmeal
Jamie from Mama Mommy Mom is bringing Butternut Squash Butter
Chelsea from Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence is bringing Pumpkin Spiced Donuts with Chai Icing
High Noon (Soups, Salads and Sandwiches)
Renee from Magnolia Days is serving up some Butternut Squash Soup
Beate from Galactopdx is bringing her Carrot Ginger Soup
Jen from Juanita’s Cocina is making some Curried Sweet Potato Salad With Cranberries and Pecans
Megan from I Run For Wine is making Skinny Roasted Butternut Squash and Italian Sausage Soup
Sarah from What Smells So Good is filling our bowls with some Spicy Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup
Alice from Hip Foodie Mom is coming with her Roasted Carrot and Red Quinoa Salad
Susan from The Wimpy Vegetarian is making Cider – Spiced Sweet Potato Soup
Tora from Tora’s Real Food is bringing Butternut Squash and Tomato Soup
Melanie from From Fast Food to Fresh Food is making Monty’s Pumpkin Soup
Lyn from The Lovely Pantry is bringing Roasted Pumpkin & Coconut Soup
Kim from Cravings of a Lunatic is whipping up some Mandarin Chicken Salad
Sunset (Dinner and Main Dishes)
Sarah from Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends is offering up some Pumpkin Ravioli
Shelia from Pippis In The Kitchen Again is serving her Roasted Squash and Ricotta with Honey
Pam from The Meltaways is making Spooky Stuffed Peppers
Patsy from Famfriendsfood is bringing her Carrot Souffle
Laura from Small Wallet Big Appetite is bringing Chicken and Sweet Potato Fritters
Mehereen from Chattering Kitchen is making Sichuan Orange Glazed Chicken with Toasted Sesame Seeds
Tammi from Momma’s Meals is making Hearty Pork Stew
Kristin from Kwistin’s Favorites is making Orange Chicken
Soni from Soni’s Food For Thought is cooking up some Rigatoni with Pumpkin Ricotta Sauce
Shelby from Diabetic Foodie is cooking up some Moroccan Vegetable Stew
Dara from Generation Y Foodie is bringing Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Brandie from Home Cooking Memories is sharing a DIY Baked Sweet Potato Bar
Amber from Mama’s Blissful Bites is bringing Rice and Fig Stuffed Mini Pumpkins
Valerie from Val’s Food and Or Art made Double Stuffed Roasted Acorn Squash
By The Bonfire (Sweets, Snacks and Sips)
Carla from Chocolate Moosey is making Pumpkin Tiramisu with Pumpkin Butter Caramel Sauce
Heather from Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks is offering up some Pumpkin Cake Truffles
Shelia from Cooking Underwriter is bringing Sweet Potato Bacon Beet Salsa
Anne from Webicurean is making some Drunken Pumpkin Bread
Karen from In The Kitchen With KP is making Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Leslie La Cocina De Leslie is making Sweet Potato Atole
Seet Fei from My Trials in The Kitchen is bringing Sweet Potatoes Mini Balls
Tara from Noshing With The Nolands is bringing Oranges En Suprise
Susan from The Girl in The Red Kitchen is making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scone with Pumpkin Glaze
Conni from Mrs. Mama Hen is making Orange Glazed Poundcake
Isabel from Family Foodie is baking up Moist Pumpkin Bread
Cindy from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings is baking up a Vegan Pumpkin Orange Cake
Brenda from Meal Planning Magic is whipping up some Creamy Pumpkin Dip
Laura from Family Spice is making some Unprocessed and Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread
Kathya from Basic and Delicious is baking up Butternut Squash and Carrot Bread
Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake is serving up Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling
Stephanie from The Cookie A Day Challenge is whipping up some Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches
Katie from She Like Ruffles, He Likes Truffles is bringing Pumpkin Harvest Cookies
Nancy from Gotta Get Baked is baking up some Orange Macadamia Dark Chocolate Cookies
Angie from Big Bear’s Wife is bringing Orange Soda Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes
Katy from Happy Baking Days is bringing Carrot Cake with Orange Glaze
Sandra from Midlife Road Trip is bringing Orange ya glad it’s fall! Hungarian Apricot/Walnut pastries
In case you lost count, that is fifty nine delectable dishes!
Please be sure you join us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper.
We’ll be meeting up at 7:00 pm(Eastern) for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat where we’ll talk about our favorite recipes featuring our favorite fall color.
All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, or you can follow us through TweetChat.
We’d also love to feature your easy go to recipes on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board and share them with all of our followers, too.
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what a delicious soup! I am loving the combination of flavors! Thank you so much for joining this week!
Pam @ The Meltaways recently posted..Spooky Stuffed Peppers for an All Things Orange #SundaySupper
I had a sweet potato soup at a restaurant and loved it. I have been looking for a recipe ever since. I’m definitely wanting to try this recipe.
Renee recently posted..Butternut Squash Soup for #SundaySupper
Apple cider syrup!! Can’t wait to try it in this fabulous seasonal soup!!
Sandi McKenna recently posted..Orange ya glad it’s fall! Hungarian Apricot/Walnut pastries #SundaySupper #Recipe
Wow, cider and sweet potatoes – I would have never thought to put these together in a soup. Sounds excellent. And your photos are beautiful!
Megan @Irun4Wine recently posted..Skinny Roasted Butternut Squash & Italian Sausage Soup for All Things Orange #SundaySupper
This soup is such a beautiful color, and it sounds delicious!
Katie recently posted..Pumpkin Harvest Cookies for #SundaySupper
I don´t think I ever had sweet potato soup, but it sounds and looks fantastic! So does the apple syrup!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen recently posted..Orange Ricotta Pancakes #SundaySupper
The color on that soup is so bright and gorgeous it’s almost glowing! YUM!
juanitascocina recently posted..Curried Sweet Potato Salad with Cranberries and Pecans ~ All Things Orange #SundaySupper!
That looks delicious and I love that it’s gluten free!
Sheila Fretz (@CookUnderwriter) recently posted..#GlutenFree Sweet Potato Bacon Beet Salsa for #SundaySupper
I’ll bet this soup is as amazing as it looks!
Anne @ Webicurean recently posted..Drunken Pumpkin Bread #SundaySupper
Sweet potato as a soup – what a fantastic idea! It sounds, and looks just amazing!
Bea recently posted..Carrot Ginger Soup for #SundaySupper
I love this list you included and your soup looks stunning!!
Oh I just love the gorgeous color of this soup Susan!! I’m a big fan of sweet potatoes and can see myself enjoying a big bowl of this.
Soni recently posted..Rigatoni with Pumpkin Ricotta Sauce ~ All things Orange #SundaySupper
This sounds fantastic and so creative between the cider vinegar and the sweet potatoes!
Susan recently posted..Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scones with Pumpkin Glaze #SundaySupper
I love the idea of cider spiced soup!!
Carla recently posted..Pumpkin Tiramisu with Pumpkin Butter Caramel Sauce for #SundaySupper
What a terrific idea to add apple cider to this soup. I bet the flavor is fantastic. I’m off to checkout your recipe for the apple cider syrup.
Kristi Rimkus recently posted..Why Buy Pizza the Same Old Pizza! Try a Shrimp and Goat Cheese Pizza Instead
Neat idea with the cider syrup!
Sarah Reid, RHNC (@jo_jo_ba) recently posted..Spicy Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup for an Orange #SundaySupper
I love sweet potato soup! Gotta try this!
Cindys Recipes recently posted..Vegan Pumpkin Orange Cake #SundaySupper
What a gorgeous soup! Love the use of cider, very seasonal.
Dara recently posted..Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese #SundaySupper
What a wonderful soup. I love sweet potatoes (used to hate them when I was a kid, but I think they weren’t cooked well) and the combination with orange juice and cider sounds delightful.
Tora Estep recently posted..Butternut squash and tomato soup: Celebrating all things orange for #SundaySupper
I’d have never thought of adding Cider to a sweet potato soup, but my goodness that sounds tasty!
This looks just delish!
Nicole @ The Daily Dish recently posted..Pumpkin Donut Puffs #SundaySupper
What a fun and simple soup. Looks beautiful!
Stephanie Zielinski recently posted..Day 87: Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches for #SundaySupper
This is gorgeous. That first picture is so eye catching.
Kim Bee recently posted..Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad for #SundaySupper
Yes! Absolutely perfect for fall! I really love the beautiful colour…so good! Lovely photographs, Susan!
Lyn @LovelyPantry recently posted..Roasted Pumpkin & Coconut Soup for #SundaySupper
The flavors must have multiplied due to the apple cider syrup. Must give this a try
chatteringkitchen recently posted..Celebrating Orange with #SundaySupper: Sichuan Style Orange Glazed Chicken with Toasted Sesame Seeds
What a gorgeous soup! I know what you mean about the weather. So glad a bit of chill is starting to show up here in San Diego.
familyspice recently posted..Unprocessed and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread for #SundaySupper
We took my nephews to Vermont on vacation this summer and went to a cider mill. Nephew #1 fell in love with cider jelly and cider syrup. Can’t wait to make him some pumpkin pancakes with your cider syrup! You soup sounds like a wonderful combination of flavors. I’ll definitely be making that too!
diabeticFoodie recently posted..Moroccan Vegetable Stew for #SundaySupper
I really enjoyed your ode to fall – I have a similar post on my blog from a few weeks ago. Fall is truly my favourite season too – what’s not to love? Especially delicious, comforting, hearty food like this beautiful soup. The flavour profile is totally up my alley – I love sweet potato and I bet the apple cider is a wonderful complement.
This soup looks so healthy, and yummy ! Love the addition of apple cider syrup. Simple & easy. Thanks for sharing
sunithi recently posted..Spiced Pumpkin Ricotta Oat Muffins with Craisins & Walnuts #SundaySupper #GlutenFree
The apple cider syrup sounds like a great addition to here – perfect for fall!
What an amazing recipe! Your photography is just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing during #SundaySupper.
Love all the ingredients you used for this soup, especially the apple cider and orange juice…healthy and yummy!
Faye Leong recently posted..Sweet Potatoes Mini Balls for #SundaySupper
This soup looks so lovely! This will certainly hit the spot for me since it’s so chilly out now! Thanks for sharing!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted..Korean Food: Dukboki – Korean Rice Cake in Red Pepper Sauce
Sweet potato is a new soup idea to me but I love it! We usually mash ours but the girls are finally starting to appreciate soup. This would go well with an apple grilled cheese sandwich!
Audrey’s Mamma recently posted..Sweet Potato Pancakes #SundaySupper
The combo of apple and sweet potato flavors sounds amazing! The thyme gives the whole thing a nice, savory twist. Yum!
Jamie @ http://www.mamamommymom.com
Jamie (Mama.Mommy.Mom) recently posted..My Kids Are Gettin’ Gutzy! So Are You!
I love that you added cider to this soup. Yum!