Hidden Valley Ranch Butternut Squash Soup

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• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup half-and-half
• 0.5 (1 ounce) packet  Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1  butternut squash, cut in half, seeds removed (2-3 pounds)
• 1  yellow onion, chopped
• 2  cups  chicken stock
• 3  teaspoons olive oil
•  crumbled crisply  cooked bacon (to garnish) (optional)
•  salt
•  pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375. Brush the squash halves with olive oil and place on a baking sheet, cut side down and bake for 40 minutes. Flip and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until flesh is tender. Allow to cool enough to scoop out flesh and set aside. Meanwhile, in a large sauce pan, cook onion in olive oil over medium heat until tender and starting to turn golden, about 7 minutes. Add stock and water, and bring to a boil. Turn off heat. In large blender, blend together the stock mixture, the squash and Hidden Valley® Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix. Work in batches, pouring soup into sauce pan as you go, and work carefully in order not to burn yourself. Stir in half and half. Heat again before serving if needed, or serve immediately. Top with crumbled bacon, if desired.
2. Bacon truly is optional; but it is pretty!