Fill the pot 3/4 full with water (or prepared vegetable broth) and add the seasonings and the canned pumpkin. Bring to a boil. Drop the heat to low and cover the pot. Simmer for one hour. Turn off the heat.
Using a handheld blender, process everything in the pot until smooth.
Optional: Garnish each soup bowl with chopped herbs, quinoa, scallions, rice, or croutons. I sometimes add a soup spoon of Greek yogurt in the middle of a single serving.
Notes
This soup will last for a few days in the fridge; you can pack it for lunch or serve it as a fast and healthy snack after school or work. This soup will freeze well, so you can use half of it right away and freeze the rest for later.