DIY Network

Think Soup and Centerpiece for Fall Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza, cohosts of Creative Juice, provide ideas for creating fall soup and a centerpiece, too.

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Now that there's a hint of autumn in the air, it's time for some warming soup with a fall centerpiece to complement it.

By Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza

Sept. 24, 2007 — I adore this time of year. The leaves are starting to fall, and I am beginning to feel the crisp in the air. This weekend I'll be packing away my summer decorations and replacing them with cozy fall decor.

The chill in the air is begging for a bowl of homemade squash soup and a toasty grilled cheese sandwich. Of course I love soup all year long, but this time of year my belly begs for it, and it goes perfect with my new centerpiece.

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 medium butternut squash, roasted, skin discarded
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 lb. carrots, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
one 2" piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
4 cups water or chicken broth
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp.ground cinnamon
1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)

Preparation:

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, stirring until the onion turns translucent. Pour in the water or chicken broth, and add squash, carrots and ginger. Bring the mixture to a boil, and cook for at 30 to 40 minutes or until the carrots and ginger are tender.

Use an immersion blender or a countertop model to puree the mixture. Boiling water can be added if necessary to thin the soup, but this is meant to be a thick creamy soup. Pour the soup back into the saucepan and heat thoroughly. Season with salt, pepper and cinnamon.

Ladle the soup into a tureen or serving bowls, and pour a thin swirl of cream over the top as a garnish.

Fall Centerpiece

Materials:

foam balls
mini glue gun
dried beans (pinto, black, kidney, etc)
craft knife/kitchen knife
candle
marker/pen
piece of felt
tacky glue

To make the bean-covered balls, start in the middle of the ball and hot-glue beans to the ball, making sure to work in a straight line across the surface.

To make the candleholders, follow these steps:

1. Cut a slice off of a foam ball; this will provide a base for the candleholder.

2. Set the ball on its newly cut base and check to make sure the base is stable. Hold the candle on top of the ball and trace around the outside of the candle. Cut around traced area until the center pops out. Push the candle into the hole.

3. Remove the candle and glue on beans. Place a piece of felt over the (bean-free) base of the ball. Cut around the felt until it fits over the base of the ball.

4. Using tacky glue, glue the felt down over the base. Felt will prevent the foam from possibly scratching a table surface. Stick pieces of cloves in spaces between beans to add fragrance. Place the candle in the candleholder.

(Emmy nominated Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza cohost Creative Juice. For more information log on to www.cathiefilian.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)

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