Butternut Squash Polenta Squares with Sage Walnut Pesto

I served these at my New Year’s Eve party.  They were one of those, rare “please please please let this idea in my head work” hail marys that actually turned out exactly as I had imagined.  A Festivus Miracle indeed. I don’t have a recipe, but I can tell you they were easier than they [...]

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Dark Days – Week 1: Pumpkin and Chestnut Cream Soup

I’m alive and I’m back.  I have had a really busy few weeks and just haven’t had time to post anything.  But, I signed up to do the Dark Days challenge again this year, which should keep me on a more regular posting schedule. The Dark Days Challenge is hosted by (not so) Urban Hennery, [...]

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Smoky Braised Mexican Kabocha Squash

I saw this vegetable at the farmers’ market and thought it was a pumpkin.  Turns out, it’s not a pumpkin.  It’s a red kobacha squash, also known as a sunshine squash.  The guy at the stand assured me it was delicious though, so I figured it would sub just fine in this recipe.  It’s also the [...]

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Dark Days Week 17 – Butternut Squash Quesadillas and Avocado Citrus Salad

Last night was a late night.  We were out celebrating friends’ engagement and I woke up this morning starving.  Granola and yogurt didn’t really cut it, so when I was at the farmers’ market, I went a little crazy.  In my mad frenzy to find things to make the hunger go away, I grabbed some [...]

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Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Cole Slaw

This is a weird dish though.  Good, but weird.  The squash is raw.  I liked it, because it was fresh and crunchy, but it has a really unusual taste.  I found it tasted better the next day, after it had sat for a while and absorbed some of the dressing.  My husband wasn’t so much of a [...]

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Penne with Butternut Squash, Walnuts, and Bitter Greens

I don’t really have that much to say about this dish, except that: 1. It’s really good, really easy, and you should make it.  And quickly, because spring is almost here (exhibit A – asparagus at the farmer’s market last week).  2. It makes a ton and reheats relatively well. 3. Between this and the sweet [...]

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Dark Days Week 12 – Pear and Autumn Vegetable Soup

A slightly more sophisticated looking dinner than last week, using very similar ingredients. And, this soup rocked.  Butternut squash, pear, and turnip?  Yes, please.  I already had one standard butternut squash soup recipe, but now it has competition in the rotation.  You can definitely taste the pear in it, though the spicy turnip balances everything [...]

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Dark Days Week 11 – Even Food Bloggers Have Bad Days

I am embarrassed to be putting this picture up because it just is not an attractive meal.  But, this was my local meal for the week, and I’ve committed to talking about it.  So, let’s just get the ugly photo out of the way. Yeah.  Sorry about that.  It’s a butternut squash pancake with smoked cheddar cheese and [...]

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This isn’t a pizza

The other night, I had big plans to make my Winter Pizza again.  While the dough was rising, I carmelized the shallots, prepped the squash, and grated the cheese. Then I looked at the dough. It was a hot mess.  It was hard as a rock and hadn’t really risen.  It seems there was a [...]

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Winter Pizza

Last week, it was freakishly cold, wet, and rainy here for a few days.  These ingredients made it all better.  I piled them on pizza dough topped with fontal cheese and the result was amazing.   Fontal cheese is a type of Fontina, only nuttier and earthier.  If you can’t find it, I’d go for regular Fontina if you prefer mild cheeses or [...]

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