When the fall pumpkin harvest arrives or the Halloween pumpkin is carved, knowing how to make pumpkin soup adds one more way to serve the colorful food item to your family. Pumpkin soup may be prepared either as a sweet or savory food and may be served either hot or cold.

The range of ingredients used in pumpkin soup makes it a versatile dish to serve for almost any occasion. Pumpkin soups may include a variety of herbs or spices and the base may use cream, coconut milk or broth.

Autumn is the season of the pumpkin. From pumpkin pie and toasted pumpkin seeds to the perfectly carved decoration, pumpkins are an American tradition. Making pumpkin soup is one more way to use the flavorful fruit.

• While there are a variety of ingredients and ways to make pumpkin soup, the steps here will give you a basic recipe. This recipe serves 6-8 people.

• 2 cups of roasted pumpkin (or canned pumpkin puree)

• 3 cups of chicken or vegetable broth

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

• 1 cup light cream or milk

• 2 carrots, peeled and diced

• 1 medium apple, diced

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1/2 tsp fresh parsley, chopped

• 1/2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• Large saucepan and/or stockpot

• Rimmed baking sheet

• Cutting board

• Large serrated knife

• Food processor

• Large spoon

• Your soup can be made with canned pumpkin, but roasting your own fresh pumpkin will lend a richer flavor that is both sweeter and nuttier.WebMD: Roasted Vegetables

1. Look for smaller pie or sweet pumpkin varieties which have a much sweeter taste.http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Baking-with-Fresh-Pumpkin/Detail.aspx A 3 1/2 pound pumpkin yields about 1 cup of pumpkin puree.http://www.thepumpkinfarm.com/faq.html
2. Place newspaper on your work surface for easy cleanup afterwards.http://www.tonytantillo.com/vegetables/pumpkin.html
3. Rinse the pumpkin in cool water and pat dry.
4. Use a sharp serrated knife to remove the stem.
5. Cut the pumpkin in half.
6. Scoop out the stringy mass and the seeds.http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/pumpkincooking.php
7. Save the seeds. Pumpkin seeds can be cooked in a variety of ways to make a delicious snack.
8. Discard the newspaper, stem, and stringy innards.

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Place the pumpkin halves cut side down on a baking sheet.http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/harvest-pumpkin-soup?autonomy_kw=pumpkin%20soup&rsc=header_2

3. Cook for an hour or until the flesh is tender.

4. Allow pumpkin to cool and scoop flesh from the skin.

5. Puree the pumpkin flesh in a food processor and set aside for later.

• Now that you have your roasted pumpkin puree made, it's time to put your soup together.

1. In a large saucepan or stockpot, melt the butter over medium-high heat.http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/SPICED-PUMPKIN-SOUP-107258
2. Add the carrot, apple, onion and garlic.
3. Saute until the vegetables are soft, about 8 to 10 minutes.http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/follow-that-food/pumpkin-soup-recipe/index.html
4. Remove mixture from heat and puree in the food processor.
5. Return your pureed mixture to your pan.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cream-of-Pumpkin-Soup/Detail.aspx
6. Add the pumpkin puree, chicken or vegetable stock, parsley and thyme.
7. Stir all the ingredients well over medium-high heat and bring to boil.http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/SPICED-PUMPKIN-SOUP-107258
8. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/follow-that-food/pumpkin-soup-recipe/index.html
9. Stir in cream and salt and pepper to taste.
10. Heat and stir for 5 minutes more. Do not let soup boil!http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cream-of-Pumpkin-Soup/Detail.aspx
11. Pour into individual bowls and garnish with fresh ground pepper.http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/harvest-pumpkin-soup?autonomy_kw=pumpkin%20soup&rsc=header_2

1. Use fresh or dried herbs such as basil, oregano, parsley, sage or thyme.

2. Try spices such as cayenne pepper, chili pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, coriander, cumin, curry or ginger.

3. Sprinkle on pumpkin seeds, pomegranate seeds, or dried fruits such as cranberries, apricots, apples or figs.

4. Top your soup with a favorite dairy item, such as creme fraiche, sour cream, yogurt, cheddar or parmesan cheese.

If you still have more pumpkin to use when the pumpkin soup is made, check out these additional pumpkin how-to videos with Mahalo's Chef Jenn. She'll teach you to make pie, bread, and muffins. For full details of each recipe shown, follow the link to the corresponding Mahalo page in the video description.