Roasted Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Slice pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and strings.
• Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, and wrap in aluminum foil.
• Use a fork to create vent holes all around the sweet potato.
• Wrap the sweet potato in foil and place with the pumpkin on a foil-lined baking sheet.
• Roast for one hour and ten minutes, or until both the pumpkin and the sweet potato are tender enough to pierce easily with a fork.
• Remove the pumpkin and sweet potato from the oven and allow to cool.
• Remove the skin from the shallots and dice them finely.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a sautª pan over a medium flame.
• "Sweat"the shallots by covering with foil and then topping the pan with a close-fitting lid.
• After 1-2 minutes, remove the cover and foil, and add the curry powder.
• Saute for an additional minute, then remove from heat.
• Scoop the flesh from both the pumpkin and the sweet potato and place in a food processor.
• Add the curried shallots, the remaining spices, and one cup of the chicken stock.
• Puree until smooth.
• Thin with the remaining chicken stock until the desired consistency is reached.
• Serve hot, garnished with chervil, if desired.