Lunch: Pumpkin Soup with Sage and Ham

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1/2 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 cups canned pumpkin puree (from one 29-ounce can)
1/3 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon dried sage
1 bay leaf
3 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 1/2-pound piece of ham, cut into 1/4-inch dice

Instructions

In a large pot, melt the butter over moderate heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and apple and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the pumpkin puree, wine, sage, and bay leaf. Add the water, broth, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes. Add the ham and simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes longer. Remove the bay leaf.

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