Both recipes sound great--it's a favorite warm me up soup in the winter. Last time I made it I added some leftover squash--about 1 c or so. It mixed in with the soup and turned the soup a warm mellow yellow color. Did not have a 'squashy' taste but certainly added a great flavor to a good soup. Squash is full of vitamin A and you can sneak in some extra nutritional value at the same time.