I did some cooking today, and was quite pleased with myself. I made my own recipe for cuzzuki and portabello soup.

Three cans chicken broth

one cup chopped cuzzuki gourd with the skins peeled off

a second cup of peeled gourd in big pieces

one leek, sliced

one cup sliced portabella,

three whole portabella,

1/2 cup barley,

another 1/2 cup barley,

combine the leek, chopped gourd, and portabella on a saute pan and cook till soft.

In a saucepan, heat the chicken broth to a light boil and add 1/2cup barley.

in a blender, blend till smooth the large chunks of gourd, 1/2 cup barley, and the whole portabellas. You may add some chicken broth to this to make blending easier. Add this to the chicken broth and lightly boil for a few minutes, and then add the sauted stuff. It should thicken some. It is GOOD! Even my husband liked it! Try adding some herbs to it.