Butternut Squash

I love butternut squash.  In the October 2009 issue of  Better Homes and Gardens, they had a recipe for Butternut Squash Bisque.  That was the beginning of my love for them.  It is so good and something I like to make each fall.  Here are the ingredients: butternut squash, butter, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, braeburn or gala apples, chicken broth, and apple juice. I am looking forward to making this sometime over the next week.

The October 2012 issue of Better Homes and Gardens has a section on recipes for Butternut Squash.  The one I am looking at making is Caramelized Squash Salad with Pistachios and Goat Cheese.  Ingredients are: butternut squash, orange juice, maple syrup, dijon mustard, ginger, salt, pepper, olive oil, mixed salad greens, pistachios, and goat cheese.

Both of these recipes are on their website:  www.bhg.com

The Way to Cook Inspired by Julia Child

I have found myself really enjoying learning to cook. It seems that it's been in me for many years but life has been full and it hadn't seemed like something I had time to pursue. Til this past summer when I felt discouraged with menu planning and my lack of creativity...I prayed that God would please help me be inspired.
Well, I had no idea that shortly after that, the movie "Julie and Julia" came out. Wow! I pulled out my cookbook "The Way to Cook" by Julia Child and asked my daughter if she would like to begin some cooking from there. I'll share pictures one day from those times. For now, I want to introduce my most recent joy: Cooking!
I'm learning to enjoy wandering through the fruits and vegetable section at the grocery store. Finding new ingredients like leeks to cook with.
Today I made Chicken Kiev for lunch. Mmmmm... it was so good. I love something baked in the oven on a winter Sunday. The recipe called for 1 1/2 sticks of butter. I used 1/2 of that. I'm sure I could use even less, but that was a good start. That recipe was from the classic Better Homes and Gardens checkered cookbook!
I'm looking forward to experimenting a bit with our microwave-making more than popcorn and reheating food.
And sometime I'll share about the soups I've been making from our church's soup kitchen cookbook. Yum! Those have warmed up some cold and dreary days.