Kabocha!

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Pumpkin soup is a warm,
healthy way to celebrate

Serve comforting soup made with best-buy kabocha from Tonga, selling for 59 cents a pound in Daiei. The vitamin A-rich potage is an antidote to over-rich holiday fare.

Also, make a nutritious holiday basket with jewel-bright apples, citrus and pears. Fuji apples are 3 for 99 cents at Times Super Market; about 49 cents a pound at Sack N Save and Pacific Supermarket in Waipahu; and about 69 cents at Daiei, IGH (Independent Grocers of Hawaii) stores and Star Markets.

Navel oranges are 3 for 99 cents to discount card holders at Sack N Save and Times; and 35 cents a pound to Foodland Maika'i Club members. D'Anjou pears are 59 cents a pound at IGH and 99 cents to Safeway Club members ($1.49 to others), while bosc pears are $1.29 at Star.

Kabocha soup

From "An American Bounty," Rizzoli 1995

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, trimmed and diced
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3 to 4 cups chicken broth
3 cups cubed kabocha pumpkin or other squash
1/2 potato, peeled and sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon julienned orange zest

In soup pot over medium heat, saute onion, carrot, celery and garlic in butter 5 to 6 minutes. Add ginger and saute 1 minute. Add broth, kabocha and potato, bring to boil, then simmer 20 minutes. Machine puree soup. Add salt, pepper and orange zest. Serve warm or chilled. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Approximate nutritional analysis per 6-ounce serving: 180 calories, 10 grams fat, 40 milligrams cholesterol, 285 milligrams sodium.*

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Catherine Kekoa Enomoto, Star-Bulletin