We live on a couple acres, at the end of a street, with a golf course on the other side of our property. We’re remote, and it is quiet. The awesome part of this is that we are only ten minutes drive to downtown Portland – so when we want to revisit our city life, we can!
This weekend, we visited a property that is really remote. We drove way out into the country, and we brought Basil along. This was Basil’s first time seeing a horse, I believe. There were a few big farm dogs running around, and Basil was friendly with them, but he was completely intrigued by this horse, sticking his head through the fence and wanting to sniff and get to know him.
One of the sweetest horses I have ever met, and beautiful – a rescue Arabian. We are going back in a couple weeks, I will remember to bring my camera then – Basil was having so much fun! He was running around the grass with the big dogs, and once he saw the horse he was transfixed! I was petting the horse and picked him up – they sniffed each other. He ran back and forth along the fence, and tried to get under it to the horse’s side.
The other animal that Basil was interested in? A three pound chihuahua, Mia. She was the cutest thing, and ooh, was she feisty! I think that’s why Basil was smitten with her – her spunky attitude.
Basil ran and played, made new friends and … crashed in the car on the way home. He slept the rest of the evening.
We bundled up and stayed warm, and I made soup.
spicy chipotle butternut soup
dairy free, gluten free, vegan
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped fine
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter (Earth Balance)
1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
4-5 cups vegetable broth
2-4* chipotle peppers, seeded and chopped
2 carrots, sliced thin
3 roma tomatoes, chopped fine
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cumin
*Depending on preferred spice level – I used canned in adobo
Sauté onion, celery and garlic in butter. Meanwhile, add half cubed butternut to 2 cups vegetable broth, boil until tender. Combine sauté (onion, celery, garlic) with butternut + broth and chipotles, transfer to blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to slow cooker. Add remaining butternut, carrot, tomato, broth and spices. Cook on low 5-6 hours.
I garnished with roasted red peppers and some pretzels for crunch.
Soup and dark evenings are both difficult to photograph, but they are cozy and they are delicious.
If you could choose anywhere – are you city or country?
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This looks perfect for the cold, cloudy day we have going on here right now. I always wanted to live in the city for a year or two to “get it out of my system” but in retrospect I think I would’ve just been annoyed. Country close to the city is more my thing. Sounds like you guys have the perfect location!
ha – that’s how I felt about moving more remotely – I always LOVED living in the city and thought I’d try the country for a while… I was (still am!) very surprised to find where we are – nice and quiet and really feels like we’re out in the middle of nowhere, but literally a few minutes drive back to a main street. perfect!
Now this soup is absolutely up my alley. Love chipotle. I’m definitely a city girl. I don’t like having to drive very far to get to the places I need to go. I think 5 miles to Target is just too much
I knew you would like this one, Heather! and would you believe, we have TWO Targets within five miles?
I LOVE YOU. Butternut squash is one of my favorite things about fall, and I adore spicy food. Genius.
thank you, Victoria!!
I hope you try this – sounds like you’ll really like it!
it sounds like you live in the perfect area, nice and quiet, and then the city not too far! I would love that!
Oh the soup looks so good! I love the pretzel topping!
Seriously hope us girls get together in MAY!
xoxo <3
it really is nice, Katie! I complain sometimes – it’s creepy dark at night because we have no streetlamp; we are on our own electricity, so when “things happen’ that goes out or gets turned off (which can be kinda fun!), but the rest of it makes up for it, definitely!
I am SO excited for May – with all the initial response I DO believe it will happen!!
This soup looks so awesome. The chipotle would be just enough to give it that extra warming effect.
I grew up with Chihuahuas. We had 3 of them over my growing up years. They’re all feisty!
thanks, Curt – that’s exactly what I thought – just enough to warm – and more heat can be added if wanted, you know? you can always add more, you can’t really take away after…
Chihuahuas are fun – Basil really liked this one! 
I always have it in my mind that ONE DAY we’ll move out to the country. Maybe in 30 years?!
it’s funny, I never thought I wanted to live in the country!! it took some getting used to, but now I do appreciate all we have out here (it’s not ALL roses and sunshine, though!)
Aww! We used to have Arabs, and whenever we would bring our “city” dog to go visit for a few minutes, he was completely obsessed with the horses (who couldn’t have cared less about the 10 lb dog.)
As for me, I’m a bit country and a bit city. Like you, I love being close enough to the city to still enjoy those amenities, but I also like being away from the traffic and inherent issues that come along with a million people crowded into one space. My city isn’t large–and not TJs, boo–but it’s a perfect mix of both.
this is a beautiful horse, and very calm and sweet (they rescued it). I don’t think Basil has ever been that close to a horse, he was very interested! pretty fun to watch
Jason and I used to live in the city – right in the city! in a big old (beautiful!) walk up apartment building. noisy and dirty and for years I loved it!! it actually took a while to get used to the sound of… nothing. most of the noise we hear now comes from the critters and the river. oh, and the golfers! you aren’t missing A LOT without a TJ’s… we could do a goodie swap and I could send you a box of TJ?? 
Agreed. I’m a little bit of both–the best of both worlds! As fro TJs, I’ve been there many times when traveling and the only “wow” thing was the price of the sunflower seed butter. Much cheaper there! Other than that, I couldn’t partake in frozen goods, so I was SOL. I’m used to it, but still like to complain at times
Looks delicious. Have a question regarding the potatoes mentioned in the directions. How many potatoes? Do you cook them with the butternut squash? Thanks.
hi Cheryl, thanks for catching that – it was meant to be butternut (I began with my potato soup recipe as a template). if you are making this I hope you enjoy!
Oh my goodness! The spicy with the sweet squash…I’m drooling! It sounds like a great weekend! I love the idea of living far enough away from the city that it’s peaceful but close enough that you don’t feel out of touch. I am definitely a little bit country and whole lotta city.
there are definitely a few downsides – we have no streetlamps so it is completely dark out there at night! we are past the county line, also, so when it snows they plow basically right up to us! and then leave! but it makes the winter that much more fun
I bet that chipotle with the sweetness of the butternut is awesome. Hot + sweet is such a great combo. Add a little saltiness and it’s like heaven to me.
yep – that’s where the pretzels come in!
this one I did salt after, I totally forgot to say that in the recipe.
I loooooove chipotle. Every time I make chili or something similar, I always add a chipotle pepper and a splash of adobo. It’s so smoky and luscious.
I know, I LOVE the smoky! those chipotles are SO good. this time I actually looked for a fresh one, but could not find one… I have only used canned – do you like fresh better?
A chipotle is a smoked and dried jalapeno, so they don’t really have ‘fresh’ ones. However, they have the dried, powdered, and canned varieties available. I’ve had all 3, but I definitely prefer the canned in adobo because I find the adobo sauce to be so tasty.
haa haa, you know, I knew that too, just um, forgot!
hee, no wonder I couldn’t find one! thank you for explaining in a nice way 
You’re cute.
You had me at spicy – yum! For some reason, I haven’t really been in the soup mood yet this fall, but I know the time is coming where I will starting craving something warm and soothing.
Heather, if you like spicy, you would probably be on the “more” side of the chipotle amount!
I’ve made this twice, and the second time I went ahead and added more since I knew we both like spicy!
I’ve never been one to use crackers in soup, but pretzels look awesome. (Mental note to buy pretzels). Definitely city for me. We moved from Chicago to St. Louis this year. We still live in the city, but it doesn’t feel city enough. We’ll definitely be back someday.
hi Kalinda! pretzels are really good in this… I add a few at a time so they stay crunchy!
Jason is from the midwest – grew up in Columbia and went to school at Mizzou. my first trip back with him, we landed in St Louis and stayed a day there, before driving out to Columbia. I loved it there, and would like to visit again! I have not been to Chicago, and Jason has spent a lot of time there (his college bands played there often) and says we will go one day.
I <3 chipotle peppers! I don't know why I don't use them more often. I don't know if I'm city or country. I'm in the 'burbs, and I love it. (Gosh that sounds lame…)
aw, not lame!
call it a mix of both? 
this was my first time using chipotle, I will be using them more!
I just printed this recipe out to make this week! It sounds so good.
Since I’ve been a city girl all my life (suburb of Chicago) I have dreamed of one day living somewhere where I had lots of space. I can practically touch my neighbors houses on either side, so that’s a little too close for me!
And have a huge garden!
yes, a huge garden is kinda nice… I do remember feeling very SAFE in the city, I think because I knew all my neighbors and they were close!
2 things:
That is ideal for me. Quiet living space with lots of land surrounding me (and not homes peering into my bathroom windows) yet still close to the city so I can shop at Anthropologie! 
1). Love those bowls!! Must have them! Where did you get them?
2). Adopt me. I want to live at your house
those bowls, aren’t they fun? they came from one of my online shopping excursions, from here –> One Kings Lane, I think?
the soup looks and sounds great!
i am city with some old-school ‘country’ values, i.e. DIY projects, leftovers, cooking from scratch
yeah, I think I’m a mix of city + country too… all the good parts of each, of course!
Sounds like you guys (and Basil!) had a fun weekend!
And that soup sounds absolutely delicious! I love squash, any kind <3
it was SO fun – Basil had a great time, then came home and SNORE crashed!
I’m a country girl for sure! We’ve lived in the city in Denver and Chattanooga and while I liked certain aspects, I always knew we’d get back to the country. Where you can leave your door unlocked, drive your daddy’s stick shift out in the pasture, and live in the very same house your mother grew up in. I love it.
ah – I love the idea of that! all of it, just sounds perfect! a community, everyone helps each other, real salt of the earth type people…
i love anything butternut squash.. your soup looks so yummy.. i’m a die hard city girl, born and raised in New York, but boy do i love to escape to a remote town whenever i can..
thanks, Cassandre! I was really pleased with this soup!
I absolutely LOVE New York City… used to get there several times a year! I know I could easily get caught up in the go Go GO again – ahh the energy of that city is amazing!! 
(see? look how little it takes…) 
The soup looks perfect and I love the GF pretzels for crunch! I almost always need a crunch. It’s hard to say for certain, but I’m pretty sure I’m a city gal. More so that I prefer to be able to walk or ride a bike anywhere…or subway in NYC. And I like the convenience of corner markets. I’m just picturing Basil having the time of his life with all of the other animals. So precious.
I always need crunch too… walk or bike ride, yes that is one thing I miss! I can’t really do much of that here – we walk all over the place, but not to get anywhere!
I didn’t think to bring my camera to capture Basil and all his new friends, but next time I definitely will! 
Love all the warm spiciness in this butternut soup, and the pretzels look like a fun, crunchy topping.
thank you, Jeanette! you described it perfectly!
I can’t choose! I want what you have! I want the acreage with peace not too far from the city.
me too! I really don’t think I could be too far from the city life… we are just far enough!
Before I play by the rules and answer you question, I must say how much more respect I have for you for putting pretzels into soup instead of those lame oyster crackers.
And I live in the city and don’t think I could hack anything rural. IRS nice to visit, but I need some bilboards.
yick, I have never been a fan of the oyster cracker… pretzels are SO good in soup!
That’s a tough question because I have a bit of city and a bit of country in me. I like your situation–the best of both worlds.
I love chipotle peppers. I’ll bet they make this soup amazing!
this was my first time cooking with chipotle, I love them!
Basil has a new horse BFF?! You have to get pictures of that next time!!! As for your soup, I’m still way hooked on butternut squash and I love that this soup has a little kick to it! Sounds delicious!!!
yes, I totally plan to!! although I think his new BFF is little Mia, the Chihuahua…
I think he is smitten with that little gal. I will get photos next time!
I like a bit of both lives — your situation would be ideal, IMO. Just a little bit off the beaten path but still close to civilization. I’ve always wanted a lot of property so it’s quiet, comfy but roomy and yet still close so people wouldn’t mind coming over or I could hop in my car and go shopping or meet up with friends.
Sounds like Basil had a *good* time! So cute!
Not typically a fan of butternut squash soup but your savory version with the addition of chipotle sounds quite delicious. Great for fall.
yep – that’s pretty much what we have, I remember being SHOCKED this place even existed and it was available!!
(still am…) I want my soups to be savory, yes! (so I think I know what you mean…). this definitely was. with just a hint of sweet… just a bit! 
I like the hint of sweet that comes naturally from the squash but not all the sweet spices added to it and then call it soup! But that’s just me.
So I might have to don my big girl panties and try your savory with a hint of sweet version.
haa, I know… um, that sounds like a warm smoothie??
Exactly!
Move over tomato soup! What a perfect seasonal recipe, and one I can actually do. I have been hooked on soups lately. Put a few pretzels on top for good measure:)
I am a total country mouse!
yay – hope you make this, it’s a goodie! (although one of my favorites will ALWAYS be tomato…) and the pretzels, a must!
The first time my dog met a cow, she didn’t know what to do with herself. She stood about 5 metres back (obviously scared) trying to be tough going, ‘yap….. yap……yap…….yap’ for a good hour. Pretty funny. The cow didn’t even blink. Yum that soup looks like a total belly warmer
haa – I am totally picturing that scene, with the cow like, “heh. what do you want? wait, I don’t know if I care…? moooo… ”
I’ve never thought to add pretzels to soup. Great idea!
I remember the first time we saw Lexy with a horse. We adopted her, so there’s no telling if it was her first time. She immediately started barking at the horse and running around it in circles. At first I was concerned, then I realized she was herding the horse! She’s a Border Collie cross, so it’s in her nature I suppose. It was so neat to see her know exactly what to do, instantly!
pretzels are GREAT in soup!
cute story about Lexy! funny how the innate ‘things’ come out, right? Basil definitely has the dachshund traits down! this horse was so very old, and just very calm – just stood there while Basil wanted to sniff and run and was so curious! it was fun – can’t wait to go back, I’m bringing my camera.
Love the recipe! Perfect cold weather meal!
I think you have the perfect mix of city and country…remote and quiet but only a short drive to the city!
it has been SO cold here lately! yes, this was a great warmer! I don’t know if I could live out here if it were far away from the ‘real’ city… we like to go out too much. maybe one day (though I doubt it!)
I don’t know why I don’t make more soup. Soup is so awesome!
I would pick country- but NEAR a big city (I guess like how you are?). I prefer living in the ‘burbs and having a big yard for my monsters to run around in, but I need to have a city within a short driving distance.
When I went to Oregon this summer, we spent some in the Dalles and then drove through Portland and stayed in Dundee. Are you near any of those places? I LOOOOOVED the Willamette Valley!!
I love soups – really pretty easy to make, at least in my method (slow cooker!).
I am in Portland, we live in SouthWest Portland (used to live downtown), and Dundee is wonderful! that is about 30 minutes south southwest of us. wine country!
OOOH…such an amazing looking soup. (love the pretzel idea too) If I could live anywhere? I evolved from a person who embraced all a city has to offer, to someone who just wants a simple, quiet existance, maybe with a little patch of land to grow my own veggies. That would be a fantasy, but right now, life is in the city. Hope you have a great week!
thanks, Roz – the pretzels are SO good in soup!! I have kindof gone the same way – years ago I could not get enough of places like New York City, I went as often as I could! now… I love the quiet and the few neighbors, and can get into our city when I want to!
and now i want those pretzels, with a bowl of soup, and some time sitting you with chatting. mmm mmm good. (yes, i just quoted campbells)
ah, that sounds perfect, my friend!! and ha – Campbells – how fitting!
i have a butternut squash on the counter and I’ve been imagining all day what kind of soup to make with it (there are so many options!) but chipotle flavor is genius!! I love anything with spice! Also thinking of something with curry and/or cilantro? Wonder if those would go together. I love the versatility in squash
the chipotle was really good, spicy to go with the bit of sweet. curry would be good, and if I liked cilantro…
Oh my oh my!! This soup looks and sounds divine!! I think I’m going to have to make this and get me some gluten free pretzels!! YUM!!
Awwwww, Basil. Hudson kinda gets freaked out with horses
We live about 20 min from downtown Vancouver and love it!!
xxoo
the pretzels really just make it perfect.
I don’t know if Basil has ever been around horses, but he was intrigued! kinda neat.
aww Basil is soo cute!!
and spicy chipotle sounds like something Gary would just love!!
that is a tough question as there are so many great cities and countries out there, but one place I know we both want to go do one day is Australia.
aw, Basil thanks you
this was my first time cooking with chipotles, and now I’m scheming other uses… they are so flavorful! 
Sounds like a wonderful and relaxing weekend! Basil is so funny. The soup looks delicious. Can’t wait to try out the recipe.
I can’t wait to go back there and bring my camera. Basil was TOO cute. I hope you try the soup – we liked it!
I’m absolutely obsessed with butternut squash at the minute and this sounds incredible! Bookmarking to make soon for sure – thanks for sharing
oh, good! I hope you love it! Cheers, Nada!
oh.my.gosh. i LOVE the idea of adding pretzels to soup. pretzels >>>>>>>>>> croutons!! i kind of have a pretzel obsession so i’m not sure why i never tried this before–thanks for the inspiration!
Oh god what
Why would you put pretzels in soup
Is it so hard to just make some frybread?
Also, chilli and butter
You just killed food.
they don’t eat pretzels in Dungeons of Dredmor?
This soup looks absolutely warming and wonderful! I also assume it’s quite spicy which would make it even *more* warming
(I always get warm from eating spicy foods).
I’m neither a city nor a country girl. I’m a medium-sized town (not small-town!!!) girls – with that, I mean 100,000 to 200,000 people towns. Heidelberg is like that, and I like it very much here. I live close to the outskirts, and it’s just a 5 or 10 minutes walk into the one direction to be in the orchards or in the moutain forest, and a 20 minutes walk (or 5 minutes tram ride) into the other direction to be in the inner city. That’s perfect for me.
yes, Kath, I love that about spicy foods too!
your situation sounds similar to ours? you are sort of remote, but with close access to city or recreation!
this is SO good, we made it for supper this evening, and YES we even added pretzels! they were GOOD.
haa… thank you for adding pretzels
(I didn’t kill food for you??) glad you liked it, hon. see you soon! XO
this soup is GOOD. we had it yesterday as an “appetizer” snack. everyone loved it, thank you!!
I am so happy to hear this was part of your holiday! thank you!
More pretty photos and delicious sounding recipes. I want photos of Basil and the horse!!!
I’m kind of a blend of city girl/country girl. I love the outdoors and the quiet. But I also like culture. I think that’s why I love Palm Springs- it’s a big little city or a little big town. Parking is easy, yet you can see world class art or theater if you want to.
making this for tonights supper; tastes great so far! thank you!
(This wasn’t for me, but when I just saw it, I *had* to reply.
)
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