Creamy Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

Delicious and company-worthy...the flavors definitely meld better made a day in advance. From Cooking Light.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons butter, divided
• 1  cup  chopped onion
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 4 3⁄4 cups  cubed peeled sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 3 1⁄2 cups water
• 3  cups  reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth
• 3  cups  chopped carrots (about 1 pound)
• 1⁄4 cup half-and-half
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1⁄3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion to pan; cook 4 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Move onion mixture to side of pan; add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to open space in pan. Increase heat to medium-high; cook 1 minute or until butter begins to brown. Add sweet potatoes, 3 1/2 cups water, broth, and carrot; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
2. Place half of soup mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining soup mixture. Stir in half-and-half, salt, and pepper. Ladle about 1 cup soup into each of 8 bowls; top each serving with about 2 teaspoons sour cream and 3/4 teaspoon parsley.