RISING TO LATE FALL ?
Deck plants have taken over my writing den, daylight is shrinking and my auto immune thing has taken over mind and body, but Fall means rising to meet the occasion. Translation: The ancestral genes flip into winter prep mode and according to my Old Farmers Almanac, we are in for a doozy this year!)
Hub calls it my squirrel time. Pantry shelves are groaning with soup fixings, my closets are filling up with catalog fleece, firewood and patio furniture are stacked in garage, and downsizing is ramping up again. Say what you will about FB, but their online Marketplace is the best way to get rid of a trunk full of costumes, a horse trailer. and a barn full of tools, etc. The bonus cash contributes to repairs of our 37-year-old house. Replacing a BLUE bathtub with a walk-in tub that is good enough for Pat Boone is critical water therapy for me! WRITING has been on hiatus until the muse returns, hopefully this winter. Hello hot tub!
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HALLOWEEN with DRAKE & SOPHIE
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Rescued Furbabies are so easy to please, unless you put them in costume! "Do we have to do this?" Minnie Mouse- our traumatized breeder rescue still thinks the sofa is her kennel-but since Sir Francis Drake joined the family, she has a role model to follow. They both LOVE a daily off-leash run around the property, riding in the car, and snuggling with us. When we leave them for a few hours, we can always expect over-the-moon welcomes on return!
P.S. Our daughter manages Paws & Claws in town & has many heart-clutching stories about loveable cats & dogs needing a "forever home." Check them...or your local humane society out! It's a win/win for all. Love and loyalty guaranteed!
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WHAT In the WORLD is THIS?
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For 37 years, weve lived on Mt. Pegasus in "Tropical Minnesota." NEVER in all that time have we seen anything like this suddenly sprout up in our woods, much less on the edge of a patio around an old cut of a tree trunk. It lasted for about a week in October and then disappeared again without a trace?? Anyone knowing what these rather humorous/scary things are, just friend me on FB at www.facebook.com/cj431 There may be a FREEBIE in it for a "like," as well?
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The best things in life ARE free...and yummy, including this special Holiday Cookbook. Click HERE to request a PDF download from me.
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PLAYING WITH SQUASH
Familiar only with acorn squash "bowls" seasoned by brown sugar and butter, I decided to try out other varieties this fall. Butternut squash is sweeter and adapts well in soup recipes. Spaghetti squash "boats" are my own easy experiment to cut time and calories with a twist. Pumpkin is in the squash family and I always loved roasting the seeds, but remained ho hum about pumpkin pie, The easy-prep-no fail recipe included banished the ho hums and carved a pumpkin smile on my face!
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BEST PUMPKIN PIE EVER!
1-15oz can pumpkin
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
¼ c. light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
1 ½ t. ground cinnamon
2 t. pumpkin pie spice
¼ t. salt
In a large bowl or mixer, combine all ingredients until smooth. Pour into an unbaked pie crust. I used a store-bought Diamond “Pumpkin pie spice nut crust” this year. Bake 15 min. at 425, then reduce to 350 degrees for 35-40 min. Sprinkle with chopped pecans if desired or add a pumpkin seed flower or a dollop of whipped cream. I was never a huge fan of pumpkin pie, eating only an “obligatory” sliver at Thanksgiving. This recipe changed my mind. Thanksgiving comes more often now!
EASY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
1 Butternut squash cut lengthwise & cleaned of seeds
1 large peeled apple, chopped
1-14.5 oz can chicken or vegetable broth
½ C. chopped baby carrots
¼ C. milk
Seasonings: 1 t. salt, dash pepper, ½ t. cinnamon, ½ t. turmeric, ½ t. dry minced onion, ½ t. maple syrup optional
Directions: Cook squash in microwave til soft for easy peeling. Scoop into food processor, alternating with some broth, chopped apple and carrots. Pour into crock pot and add rest of broth, milk and seasonings. Stir occasionally over next few hours. I garnished bowls of this thick soup with roasted pumpkin seeds. Besides taste and nutrition values, it’s low in calories and soy, egg, oil and gluten free. Sub a plant- based milk and you get Vegan approval, as well.
SPAGHETTI SQUASH BOATS
Trim the top and bottom of 2 Spaghetti squashes. Stand on end and slice lengthwise, then scoop out seeds. Rub edges with olive oil and sprinkle interior with salt and pepper. Place face down on a cookie sheet and bake at 350-375 for 40-60 minutes or til inside is soft and easily pierced with a fork. Meanwhile brown 1 lb. ground beef or chuck in a skillet with ½ c. chopped onions and green pepper. Add a jar of pasta sauce, stir and simmer on low til squash is ready. Fill the “boats” with hot beef mixture and top all with 1 cup mozzarella and return to oven til cheese melts. Serve with garlic bread with this twist on the typical “spaghetti” dinner.
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