Butternut Squash

I love all things squash! Butternut squash is especially yummy this time of year and I picked one up last weekend. These babies are hard to cut, I mean, like HARD. I recently got a set of Cutco knives and those babies can cut. I read somewhere recently that you should cut the squash in half, through the middle, not lengthwise. That way, you have 2 pieces of squash with a flat edge that is easier to handle. Set the pieces up on that flat end to stabilize it then cut that piece in half again. Scoop out all that stringy stuff and seeds. You'll want to peel it too, the skin is very thick. It's different from summer squash, with it's thin skin that you can just leave on and eat. Use a veggie peeler and the skin comes off easily. Now your squash is ready to cube, I'd say like 1 inch cubes. I tried this recipe for Balsamic Roasted Butternut Squash. I've been hankering for a new way to prepare that lonely little squash sitting on my counter top...thanks GOOGLE :) I ran across this little gem and I love balsamic vinegar on other veggies, so I figured I'd try it. It was great! I roasted mine closer to an hour to get it to really caramelize. The sweetness of the squash really comes out the longer you let it roast and the balsamic gets really sweet too. The end result is a great balance of sweet and tangy squashy goodness. Let me know if you try it!

Still HOT at 40

My hubby turned 40 last week! We are so lucky to have great friends and family that joined us for a celebration filled with fun and food.

The theme of the party was "Still HOT at 40". I came up with it because he absolutely loves all things hot and spicy (he married me, right? hahaha). See that gallon jug of Tabasco? That was his souvenir from our recent trip to New Orleans. He was in heaven at the Tabasco store, literally like a kid in a candy shop. I thought I would share a few shots of the party, it was so much fun. I had never planned and executed such a big party before. It was a lot of work, but I loved doing it. I planned the menu and made all the food myself, as always we had waaaayyyy to much food!

This is us with some of our best friends, I have know Caron since we were 5 years old!

The birthday boy with my dad.

My sister and me with mom and dad.

A better shot of the cake. It was a white cake with Bavarian cream filling. YUMMY!

Stay tuned for what I did with ALL the leftovers.

Blogger Book Club Discussion Questions

The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes

Chapters 1-10

• What was your first impression of Tim?

I think I am often skeptical so at first I thought he was just "playing" with her. She's so young and I think he could tell she was interested in him. I think he was surprised by her as he got to know her and began to develop feeling for her.

• If you were in Cee Cee's position, would you be willing to help your boyfriend in the way that she is willing to help Tim?

I absolutely would not do what she is doing. I remember being 16 and crazy in love, but I also had family and close friends that kept me grounded. I think Cee Cee jumps in because she doesn't have a close support system and she doesn't have anyone that she feels like she would be disappointing with her actions. On the other hand, she would be disappointing the only person she feels like she has if she doesn't do it.

• Why do you think Cee Cee is so eager to please Tim?

I think Cee Cee is lonely and has come to consider Tim to be her family. Being just 16 also has lots to do with her willingness to please him, she seems to go out of her way to prove that her age isn't an issue.

• Who do you think has it harder? Tim or Cee Cee?

I would say Cee Cee has it harder because as I mentioned above, she doesn't have anyone but Tim. Although I believe she truly doesn't want to be involved, she is so afraid of losing him that she is going against her moral compass. I am interested to see how this inner struggle plays out and changes her as the story develops.

• What traits about Cee Cee stuck out the most to you in chapters 1-10?

What sticks out most to me is her child like innocence and willing to trust despite all that she has been through in her life.

• Do you think Cee Cee is as mature as she seems?

I think she comes off as being more mature than she is because of the circumstances of her life and how she seems to have gotten through them. I think on the inside she is still just a scared little girl that is too trusting.

Blogger Bookclub

I have always loved to read but I don't always make time to get lost in a good book. I used to read in bed, but these days I am usually so tired that I am ready to saw logs as soon as my head hits the pillow. These two girls, Erin at Blue-Eyed Bride and Rachel at In No Simple Language, may have just solved my problem. They have come up with a sort of virtual book club called Book Beginnings and Bookends. One of the ways they have helped me out is that I never can decide what book on my never ending list of must reads that I should start. They have chosen The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes as the first read. I ordered it on Amazon today so that I will be ready for my first reading assignment! If you would like to participate, get your copy and be ready on August 9.

Who's Team Are You On?

I'm Team Edward...

as long as Jacob keeps his shirt on.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream...

FOR ICE CREAM!

My birthday is coming up and I am getting one of these! I have wanted an ice cream maker for awhile now, but just never broke down and bought one. My mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I was so glad I remembered to ask for one. She ordered it and it should be here in time for us to break it in on my actual birthday.

When I was a little girl we used to celebrate 4th of July at my uncle's house- and there was always homemade ice cream. It was made in an old fashioned ice cream maker and I remember it being pretty labor intensive and taking a looooong time to be ready (it sure was good though!) From the reviews on this machine, we will be eating the same yummy ice cream in 20 minutes and with MUCH less work. I am looking forward to trying lots of new recipes, I have found plenty of them to keep me in ice cream all summer.

Licorice...Is it a DO or a DON'T For You?

I am an avid reader of Serious Eats and this article got me to thinking. I just love black licorice! Licorice is one of those things that it seems like you love or you hate; there's not a middle ground. As I said, I am a black licorice girl. I don't mind the red, but to me, it's just not licorice. I have great memories of going to Silver Dollar City for family vacations. One of our favorite spots was the candy store where my sister and I could watch the candy makers in action. Then, we could go into the store and sample ourselves silly. I still always ended up with my old standby, black licorice pillows. MMMM, I can almost taste them.

So, are you a red, black, or no thank you?