Thanks Kristen More for submitting this one!

Carrot Ginger Soup with Cranberry-Almond Salad
Fresh and flavorful, this soup and salad combo hits the spot. 
Ingredients
Soup
- 2 tbsp olive oil
 - 2 tbsp butter
 - 1/2 onion, peeled and chopped
 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and minced
 - 4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
 - 1 lb sweet potato, peeled and chopped
 - 1/2 lb Yukon Gold potato, peeled and chopped
 - 4 cups chicken, vegetable broth, or water
 
Salad
- 5 oz baby spinach
 - 1/4 cup almonds
 - 1/2 small bunch Italian parsley
 - 1/4 c dried cranberries (or other dried fruit)
 - 2 tsp sesame seeds
 - 1 tbsp shallot, minced
 - 1.5 tbsp apple cider vinegar
 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
 - 1 tsp honey
 - black pepper
 - salt
 
Instructions
- Preheat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
 - Peel and mince shallot; add to salad bowl.
 - Once the saucepan is hot, add 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp butter and swirl to coat the bottom.
 - Saute the onion with 1/2 tsp salt for 5 minutes, until soft.
 - Add the chopped ginger and saute for 3 minutes.
 - Combine the chopped carrots, sweet potato, yukon golds, 1 tsp honey, and 1/2 tsp salt in the saucepan.
 - Add broth, bring to a boil; cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 12 minutes.
 - In the salad bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp olive oil, 1.5 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp honey, 2 tsp sesame seeds, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1 pinch black pepper.
 - Using an immersion (hand) blender (or regular one), puree the soup until smooth.
 - Measure out cranberries and almonds. (1/4 c each)
 - Shave the leaves off parsley stems; discard the stems and mince the leaves.
 - Add the spinach to the bowl with the dressing. Add 3/4 of the parsley, the cranberries, and almonds; toss to combine.
 - To serve, pour soup into a bowl, garnish with the remaining parsley, and arrange salad on the side. Enjoy!