Acorn Squash, Vegetable Soup with Pork Ribs

I enjoy making homemade soup from scratch.  It's not only healthy, but also tasty.  Making homemade soup is very easy.  You don't need any special knowledge to make scrumptious soup.  The key is to use fresh ingredients.   Sauteing onions, garlic and leek before adding liquid can bring out their aromas.   That would give the soup more flavour.  

I use a stainless steel skimmer to remove the excess oil that floats on the surface of the soup

Ingredients
1 acorn squash (slightly over 1 lb) - cut into chunks
1 lb pork ribs - bite size 
1 leek - white part and thinly sliced
2 cups carrots - chopped
2 stalks celery - chopped
1 onion - chopped
2 shallots - diced
2 garlic cloves - minced
2 bay leaves
3 basil leaves
1 bunch cilantro
1 tablespoon oil
8 cups water
Salt and pepper to taste


Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Saute onions, garlic, shallots and leek until tender and lightly browned.
2. Add pork ribs, acorn squash, carrots and celery.  Saute for about one minute.
3. Add water, bay leaves, basil and cilantro.
4. Increase the heat to high.  Bring it to a boil. 
5. Reduce the heat to low.  Cover and simmer for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the pork ribs become tender. 
6. Remove cilantro, bay leaves and basil half way through cooking time.
7. Remove excess oil that has floated to the surface.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.