Happy Halloween! :D
For my soup, I vaguely followed this recipe: I used all the ingredients listed here. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pumpkinsoup_89904)
However, as there are only two of us, I halved the amounts (and used a much smaller pumpkin! Only about 2kg)
To begin with, I hollowed out the pumpkin, but didn't worry about leaving 1 inch of flesh around it, as I haven't used my pumpkin to serve the soup in (I did however, leave enough that I could later carve it) :) (https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10636107_478379062299918_4449743912955786842_n.jpg?oh=22cd60743bb8d05123e20cbcf77b1ced&oe=54F0C600)
Then I more or less followed the recipe exactly for a while - softened the onions in the butter: (https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10612747_478379042299920_5908672017515838549_n.jpg?oh=f3ce12acd4a62be33bef3592f907c46f&oe=54F0B91C&__gda__=1423946944_4c3256b27a52e47e62eefd2b4b4edb47)
Chopped the pumpkin flesh and added it to the pan with a cinnamon stick, ground nutmeg, and salt and pepper: (https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10670214_478379015633256_7116309050903851044_n.jpg?oh=1c2526bd913b4d6f6968057ad6818aea&oe=54E061DF)
I find timings on recipes online to be a bit out and/or inconsistent at times, but do cook this for the recommended 45 minutes to release all the flavour (I possibly even left it a little longer) :)
Added the stock and brought soup to the boil: (https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10632583_478378992299925_4423949411407201579_n.jpg?oh=32a4603245c2836133fe7c93dc5c580a&oe=54DA44EF&__gda__=1420712243_2da30a902a40f1a42e3403d525462b1e)
After letting it simmer for a few minutes I then liquidised it with a hand blender (Don't forget to remove the cinnamon stick at this point before liquidisation!) (NOTE: Hand blenders are incredible when making soup. It literally took 30-40 seconds): (https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10628132_478378945633263_1358174633477174990_n.jpg?oh=fb82786fe0bb75db53b68ae7a74c1625&oe=54AE7D29&__gda__=1425336351_19d6d4358db11a7e89ad2b54d030fc6c)
This is where I diverged from the recipe, having brought the soup back to the boil, I added the sherry: (https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/1901849_478378845633273_3622529851082572556_n.jpg?oh=5aff55d4bb22a355f8ed208ef91b2669&oe=54EEF9A6&__gda__=1425277430_495432a6046d022cf23cf45db2450788)
Having let that boil as well for 5 minutes or so, I tested the soup, and seasoned with pepper again.
Done! (https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1621851_478378742299950_4783784140940701686_n.jpg?oh=9ccf8958fa72b0186060afe205d63814&oe=54AEEC20&__gda__=1420657949_ad622668a66f890863df7bd367449530)
It was really simple to make, and tastes delicious!
(NOTE: I wouldn't expect the amount we've made to really feed 4-5 unless they're quite small portions, but I find BBC recipes are always off on serving size anyway :P )