onions will win. every time. unless you wear goggles. and then you win.

i hold my parents responsible for this culinary fascination as of late. i grew up with parents who knew how to cook well. when i lived in my studio flat for the first six months of being here, i never had the desire to cook gourmet-style or bake. i stuck to what i knew worked, food wise. it was also a combination of homesickness, incredible work stress and culture shock that resulted in an extended state-of-loss-of-appetite. i never felt inspired. i stuck to what i knew worked and gave me sustenance to keep going.

when i moved in with rachel, all that changed. i was still losing weight, which told me i was doing this the healthy way. i frequented the green grocers across our flat. i fell in love with rachel's stellar kitchen and i was...unemployed. well, not much has changed as i'm still unemployed, but now i'm the one with a stellar galley kitchen of my own.

i walked to town the other day. i found a green grocers. i bought ingredients to make soup. i love green grocers. locally grown food warms my heart.

i'm gonna show you how to make butternut squash soup. i've made this many a times...but because i don't seem to be buying orange juice these days, which i don't know why...because it's either water or coffee that i usually consume...liquid-wise i've omitted it. but, this time i remembered to pick up some oranges so i freshly squeezed one into the soup. the recipe can be found here. it really is the easiest soup ever and it won't disappoint. also...no cream or potatoes required. score.

i'm a firm believer in prep-work. gather everything you need, clear a space, pour some wine and start prepping. it makes the whole process so much more relaxing. maybe its the wine. put on some music, take your time and enjoy the prep-work-process and your glass of shiraz.

prep-work for this particular soup includes peeling the squash, scooping out the goop and seeds and chopping. then there's the onions to chop, along with mr. garlic and mrs. ginger. i cry every time i cut onions. every time. i usually have to walk away and count to ten and then i return. my eye makeup smears, but whatever.

oh, wine glasses and hayley don't mix...so it's the whisky glass these days. it's a win-win, people.

goop. i'll deal with you later. i have more important things to do. like make soup. oooh. burn.

what does this ginger look like? guess.

does this help? you know i bought this solely based on the fact that it looks like a lobster.

heat some olive oil in a big pot and bowl the kettle because you're about to make vegetable stock with these cubes.

i love the smell of garlic and onions cooking on the stove. it sends me to my happy place. i wonder if there's a yankee candle of that scent. santa?

squeezing an orange in the most unprofessional of manners. whatevs. it got the job done.

after the onions and garlic have done a little dance together in the pot with someone named olive, throw in mr. ginger and chopped butternut squash. stir and cook for five minutes. take a sip of wine and pour the boiled water from the kettle into a dish and mix with the vegetable-stock-cubie-thingies. after taking five, throw it all into the pot and stir.

at this point i'm always anxious because i don't know if everything is going to fit in the pot. you have no idea how many times i often just fly by the seat of my pants in the kitchen.

set the timer for thirty minutes. i thought i set the timer...but i didn't. forty minutes later. i don't think it really matters. at least that's what i'm telling myself.

this gives you time to drink more wine. and, deal with the seeds from the squash. i like roasting them in the oven with olive oil and salt and pepper. but, first you have to separate the seeds from the goop.

rinse and pat those bad boys dry.

and toast 'em.

goop. sorry...but i've got nothin' for you. this is where we say goodbye.

don't forget to stir the soup. look at how much it's reduced!! sometimes i get anxious over absolutely NOTHING.

this guy is a must for the next step.

pureeeeeeeeeeee...and done. booyah. not the nicest colour in this photo...i blame the lighting. but, this should last me all week. viva soup!