Instructions

1. In a large dutch oven melt the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the butternut squash and toss and saute for about 5-10 minutes. Add the leeks, additional veggies, and stock.
2. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cover. Let it cook, stirring and tossing the veggies occasionally, until the butternut squash becomes soft and easily mashed by a fork or whatever utensil you are using to stir everything.
3. Remove from the heat. Carefully blend the mixture in a blender or use a handheld blender to puree everything together until you reach your desired consistency (I go with a pretty smooth mixture here as I’m trying to get the daughter to not realize it’s veggies, but otherwise I might like a fairly chunkier texture).
4. Stir in the half and half and black pepper. Sprinkle some cinnamon or ground nutmeg with an extra touch of half and half drizzled on top.
5. Garnish with chives or rosemary.