Ali Shapiro

Warming soup recipe & last day to save on "Stress Free Spring Detox" program

I don't know about you, but I'm about to cry Uncle. I'm over winter. I'm looking for inspiration anywhere I can. I've even started watching the Olympics. I don't understand half the sports BUT I do know I'm so inspired by the last push of a neck-and-neck race. It's when years and years of training are the back story and it's all about faith. It comes down to a belief in yourself, your body and throwing caution to the wind. You have to go all out. You can't hold back. Everything is on the line. And even if you don't win a medal, you've probably surprised yourself at your new found limits. Ah...it gives me chills (the good kind!).

I have enclosed a recipe today to help you stay healthy through these last days of winter. It's the type of recipes that will be included in my upcoming "Stress-Free Spring Detox Program." Today's the last day to save the $10 on my upcoming "Stress-free Spring Detox" program. The low price of $29 provides incredible value for such a fantastic program. It's designed for those of us who would like to have Canyon Ranch come to us. In other words, the food is fabulous, it will be a stress-free experience and you'll learn some great things about food and innovative cooking techniques.

For more details and to sign-up, click here:

http://www.alishapiro.com/stress-free-spring-detox

David Salvatore, the chef I've teamed up with on this program, passed along a winter soup for me to share with my readers. I made this last week and it was amazing! I skipped out on the cayenne pepper because it gives me heart burn and used olive oil instead of peanut oil (David will be on the call to discuss substitutions for the detox recipes). There was so much it lasted for four days. Carlos and I never tired of it. This soup provides an idea of what foods you will be eating on this detox. Get ready to be delighted!

Butternut Squash Soup

Yield: about 2 quarts

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1 medium sweet onion, peeled and roughly chopped

2 garlic cloves, smashed with the back of the knife

1 butternut squash, about 2 pounds, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped

2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped

1 sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped

1 granny smith or Fuji apple, seeded and roughly chopped

½ tsp ground cumin

1 tsp madras curry powder

¼ tsp cayenne

1 tsp salt

½ tsp freshly milled black pepper

1 tsp flax seed

2 cups vegetable or chicken stock, or water

½ cup coconut milk

Unsweetened coconut, black currants and toasted slivered almonds

- Heat a large soup pot over medium heat, and add the peanut oil.

- Cook the onion and garlic for a few minutes until the onions are translucent and the aroma is released.

- Add the squash, carrots, sweet potato and apples, stir together and cook, covered, about 15 minutes over medium heat, stirring often.

- Add the cumin, curry, cayenne, flax seed, salt and pepper and cook, covered, a further 15 minutes until the spices release their aromas.

- Add the stock and coconut milk and simmer over medium-high heat until the vegetables are very tender, about 20-25 minutes.

- Meanwhile, lightly toast the grated coconut in a non-stick pan over a medium-low heat, tossing it in the pan until lightly browned.

Reserve for garnish.

- Puree the soup in batches in the blender until very smooth, adding more stock or water if too thick.

- Garnish each portion with the toasted grated coconut, black currants and almonds.

- Freeze the remaining soup in pint containers if it will not be consumed within three days.

Who doesn't deserve to eat and feel like royalty? Or an Olympic athlete for that matter (I highly doubt they are eating at the Olympic-sponsored McDonalds). You can and will on my upcoming detox program. Remember to sign-up here today if you want to save the $10:

http://www.alishapiro.com/stress-free-spring-detox

And remember, even if we aren't Olympic athletes, we have big and small ways to challenge our own self-imposed limits everyday. Mine lately is to make it through winter with my all my healthy habits. As hard as it is to believe, Spring is right around the corner.

Be well, Ali