Squash soup

Ingredients

½ pound raw chestnuts
2-2 ½ pound Butternut squash
1 onion
1 carrot
1 stalk celery
2 tablespoons butter
5 cups chicken stock
¼ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
1 ½ cups light cream
Freshly ground pepper
Salt

Directions

Peel chestnuts. Peel and seed squash and cut into ½ inch cubes. Chop onion, carrot, and celery, and add to butter melted in 4-quart saucepan. Stew to wilt but not brown. Add chestnuts and squash and stir into vegetables. Add 4 cups chicken stock and ½ teaspoon salt. Bring to boil, cover reduce heat, and cook for 30-40 minutes or until chestnuts and squash are tender. Stir in ginger if you like. Puree in a blender with remaining chicken stock. Add cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Reheat and serve.