Calabaza soup

1. Simmeri all the ingredients except the salt, pepper & chili pepper, in 6 cups of water for 1 hour.
2. Straini the liquid into a bowl & allow the solids to cool.
3. Pureei the cooled solids.
4. Return the puree to the soup pot along with the strained liquid.
5. Simmer, uncovered, until the mixture is reduced to a syrup-like consistency.
6. Add the seasonings while simmering & serve very hot. Variation: add ½ lb fresh okra after pureeing the vegetables above.
7. Virginie & george ebart, "down-island caribbean cookery.