Flat Belly Pumpkin Bisque- One Last Thanksgiving Recipe

Is the weather around you as wacky as it is here?

Two days ago, it was 70 degrees...

Today, it's snowing...the first storm of the season...

and we are expecting 3-6 inches.  

After last winter's ridiculous amounts of snow,

I was hoping that not a flake would fall this year,

and I'm not finding this pre-Thanksgiving nor'easter at all amusing. 

I usually turn to food to cheer me up (do you?),

so in anticipation, I whipped up a batch of pumpkin bisque.
I know I'm just squeaking in under the wire, with a pumpkin soup post the night before Thanksgiving, 
but I'm behind schedule on most everything in my life right now.

Last-Minute Mom...that's me.

I'm blaming everything on my volunteer position,
which is keeping me as busy as a full-time job...
is almost as stressful...
and, oh, yes...there's no pay :)

It's ok, though, I'm happy to do it, it's just that
 it's been hard to get out as many blog posts as I want to, or even when I want to...
and it's really limited my time to go and visit other blogs.
I hope you understand. 

So back to the bisque...I was glad to have some of this rich and velvety soup 
for dinner on a snowy night; 

in fact, I've been singing,

"I'm all about that bisque, 'bout that bisque, no trouble...

'cause every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top." 

Someone save me from myself.

 Yes, I said "rich," in a post that's has "Flat Belly" in the title, and that's not a mistake.

This bisque doesn't have any cream...or any dairy, whatsoever, 
and yet it is still thick, and hearty, and filling.  
A single potato is what gives it such a substantial consistency. 

The recipe comes from my beloved Flat Belly Diet Cookbook  
(I also have the first one, and the Family cookbook).
(By the way, I lost 5 pounds on the Flat Belly Diet over the last few weeks).

If you follow me regularly, you know that I almost always  
screw up something when I'm cooking,

but every now and then, that turns out to be a good thing.

Mr. Goo Shoes knew I was at it again, when he heard me yelling, "OH CRAP!!!" 
...or some lady-like utterance, to that effect.

Most of the errors of my ways are due to the fact that I don't read the instructions throughoughly before I start,
which inevitably leads to a recipe malfunction,
or just as often, a second trip to the store to get what I forgot.

The recipe calls for a can of pumpkin puree.
I knew I had several cans in the pantry, 
 and I inadvertently grabbed pumpkin pie mix, instead of plain pumpkin puree.

I didn't realize my mistake until it was simmering away.

Uh-oh.

I was afraid to taste it, but...
it was so good, I couldn't stop sampling it.
I must have eaten half a bowl right out of the pot...
and I can't help but think that I improved upon the recipe. 
Of course, the pumpkin pie mix does have sugar in it, 
making it a little more caloric than the original version.  
 But, the flavor of the nutmeg/cinnamon/cloves made it well worth it,
and I figured that if I did about 50 more sit-ups, 
my belly wouldn't expand as a result of my blunder. 
Seriously, spread across what I figure to be 8 servings
(or four, if you are me), it's negligible. 

You, however, have the option of making it either way.
Just know that the pumpkin pie mix does make it a little sweeter.

Oh, and by the way, it took much longer than 15 minutes 
for my potatoes to become very tender. 
It was more like 30 minutes. 
Just thought you should know.

On this day before Thanksgiving,
one thing I am enormously thankful for...is YOU.
With all of the blogs out there, I have to pinch myself sometimes that somehow, you've found your way over to mine.
I am thankful your readership, your pins, your follows, your tweets, 
your status updates, your comments...
but mostly, your friendship.

Wishing all of you a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving...
filled with whatever it is that makes you feel 
content and grateful.

 You may also like these other Flat Belly Diet recipes:

Chocolate Zucchini Snack Cake

Lemon Cupcakes

Linking With:
Wow Us Wednesday
Wake Up Wednesday
What's It Wednesday 
Let's Get Real