Pumpkin Soup/Cheesy Onion French Bread - Linda

Pumpkin Soup:

1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup butter
2 T. flour3 cups water
1 16-oz can pumpkin or 2 cups fresh pumpkin
4 teas. chicken bouillon or four bouillon cubes
1 T. tomato paste
1 teas. sugar
1/8 teas. white pepper
2 cups half and half

In a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, saute onion in butter for 5 minutes or until clear. Add flour. Cook and stir for 1 or 2 minutes. Add water, pumpkin, bouillon, tomato paste, sugar and pepper. Stirring, bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes or until onions are tender. Remove from heat: cool slightly. Place half of the mixture at a time in blender, cover. Blend at high speed for 30 seconds or until very smooth. Return mixture to saucepan. Stir in half and half. Thin with milk to desired consistency. Over low heat, bring to just under boiling. Serve in individual bowls with a garnish of nutmeg if desired. To use fresh pumpkin, simply cut it in half, scooping out all the seeds. Place in a shallow baking dish with about an inch of water. Covering with foil makes clean up a snap. Bake at 350 for about an hour or until pumpkin can be pierced easily with a fork. Cool, then scoop out the pulp with a spoon.

Cheesy Onion French Bread

2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup green onions, diced
1 loaf unsliced French Bread, halved lengthwise.

In a bowl, combine everything. Spread over cut sides of bread. Place on a baking sheet. Bake @375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese melts.