Sunday, October 27, 2013
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Winter Squash
I love the fall for so many reasons. Sweater weather is great but I lurvv me that boot weather more. I also love pumpkin time! My favorites are the grey/green pumpkins. Such beautiful colors. When my oldest son moved away to college I repainted his room a color that was inspired by a Hubbard squash. Pumpkins and squash also make for great, healthful eating. So many vitamins and so many ways to prepare. One of my favorite recipes is from Moosewood Restaurant Low-fat Favorites.
http://beacon.salisbury.edu/provident/recipes/squash_soup.htm
New England Squash Soup
1 c diced onions
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 c unsweetened apple juice
1 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
1 potato, diced
3 c water or broth
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 c mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp soy sauce
2/3 c evaporated skimmed milk
salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp dry sherry (optional)
Combine the onions, celery, garlic, and juice in a large soup pot. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add the squash, potato, water/stock, bay leaf, salt and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, cover, lower the heat, and simmer approximately 25 minutes.
While the soup simmers, sauté the mushrooms in a skillet with the (optional) sherry and soy sauce until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
When the squash and potatoes are very soft, remove the pot from the heat and working carefully in batches puree the soup with the evaporated milk in a blender. Reheat gently. Add salt and pepper. Serve topped with the sautéed mushrooms.
From Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites, 1996.
*I don't usually put mushrooms. I also augment the recipe by adding ginger and coriander to taste. I also like the soup chunky so I reserve some of the potatoes and squash chunks before putting it in the blender.
BEAN SALAD
1 can black eyed peas (any canned beans will do) drained
1 can of corn drained
1/4 cup diced green or red pepper
1/4 cup red onion diced
1 can of corn drained
1/4 cup diced green or red pepper
1/4 cup red onion diced
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 cup salsa or 1 can rotel tomatoes with green chilis drained
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 cup salsa or 1 can rotel tomatoes with green chilis drained
worstershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
mix all ingredients chill for 2 hours serve with tortilla chips
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
RIP Heisenberg
Very happy with the ending for Breaking Bad. I watched the first season but then it got too heavy so I took a break. Then one day they were running a marathon of seasons 2 and 3 and I caught a few episodes and I was hooked again. This was definitely one of the most well written TV series ever. And one of the best endings. Six Feet Under still ranks as my favorite series finale. You got to say goodbye to all the characters. You knew what happened to them in the future and you knew they were going to be okay. When Michael C. Hall showed up on Dexter a few months later, I was so relieved. I was like awww. David's back. Yay. Breaking Bad did not disappoint either. This last season was about closure. I have to admit I had a little bit of schadenfreude concerning Jesse Pinkman. If you think back to the early seasons, by the time we meet Jesse, his parents have pretty much given up hope for him because he just wouldn't straighten up and fly right. At the end when Jesse is full of regrets, I couldn't help thinking, you should have listened to your mother!
Felina/Finale was a great episode. I really thought Walt was going to open a can of whoop ass on Gretchen and Elliot Schwartz for screwing him out of Gray Matter. Even though we're never really told what transpired between Gretchen and Walt. They were away on a weekend with her family when suddenly Walt packed and took off. Perhaps there was shrinkage. Having Gretchen and Elliot be the money mules was a stroke of genius. And a little fear of execution will make sure they stick to the plan and keep them honest long after Walt is gone. If they only knew that it was just Badger and Skinny Pete with laser pointers. LOL! Loose ends were tied up. Everything was resolved in a very satisfying manner. Walt finally admitted to himself and to Skyler what we all already knew. "I did it for me, I liked it. I was good at it, and I was really... I was alive." It was a wild ride. Rest in Peace Mr. White.
http://youtu.be/beM28FLdAzk
Felina/Finale was a great episode. I really thought Walt was going to open a can of whoop ass on Gretchen and Elliot Schwartz for screwing him out of Gray Matter. Even though we're never really told what transpired between Gretchen and Walt. They were away on a weekend with her family when suddenly Walt packed and took off. Perhaps there was shrinkage. Having Gretchen and Elliot be the money mules was a stroke of genius. And a little fear of execution will make sure they stick to the plan and keep them honest long after Walt is gone. If they only knew that it was just Badger and Skinny Pete with laser pointers. LOL! Loose ends were tied up. Everything was resolved in a very satisfying manner. Walt finally admitted to himself and to Skyler what we all already knew. "I did it for me, I liked it. I was good at it, and I was really... I was alive." It was a wild ride. Rest in Peace Mr. White.
http://youtu.be/beM28FLdAzk
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