What's for dinner?
Butternut Squash Soup. The best recipe I've ever had. I took a really simple one and tweaked it a few years ago and it's one of my favorite things about the fall season. Plus, it's so good for you!
3 Tbsp. butter
2 1/2 C. chopped onion
3 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 T. brown sugar
6 C. chicken broth (I used Swanson)
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. pepper
5 1/2-6 C. cooked, mashed butternut squash
2-3 C. milk
Slice the butternut squash (about 3 med. size) in half, remove seeds, wrap it in foil and cook at 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until soft. Scoop it out, mash a bit and place in a bowl (you can do this the day before). You can also buy cubed squash at the store...I'd say about 3 lbs. of cubed squash.
Put butter, onion, sugar and seasonings in a saucepan and cook over med-hi heat until onion is soft. Stir in broth and squash. Bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and puree in blender or food processor (or I use my hand blender and it works great). Return to saucepan and stir in milk (add 2-3 cups depending on thickness desired) and reheat. (When you reheat the next day, add a little more milk to thin it out a bit).
Sometimes, depending on the squash, my soup needs a bit more salt or pepper. Taste it and feel free to stir in more salt, pepper or spice.
What's for dessert?
world's easiest Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 small can of pumpkin
1 spice cake mix
3/4 bag of milk chocolate chips
I'm serious. Mix the cake mix and pumpkin together, add chocolate chips. Place by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet and bake at 325 for 12 minutes. We love them and they can't be too bad for you, right? (Unless you eat 10 at a time like I do). Also, if you can only find the big cans of pumpkin, just use 2 cake mixes and more chocolate.
What should I read?
Still Alice: Lisa Genova
This book was amazing. I read it in about 3 days because I couldn't stop. It's about a woman who gets Alzheimer's in her mid 50s. It was just...everything. The writing fantastic, the characters perfect and the experience so real. It was frightening, loving, emotional, hopeful and hopeless all at the same time. I loved the length too...just right. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Outliers: Malcolm Gladwell
This book was absolutely fascinating. It's a non-fiction book but I couldn't wait to pick it up and I never wanted to put it down, which is rare for me and non-fiction. It explores why some of the most successful people in the world are so successful. It creates a compelling argument for a success formula (which also involves a heavy degree of luck...so sorry if you were going to follow it step by step). It delves into elite hockey players in Canada, Chinese math students, the Beatles, Bill Gates, and oh so many other fascinating characters. It turns out each of the success stories has the exact same properties. It talks a lot about education of children and what works best. It also talks about why people just need to be "smart enough," not necessarily geniuses. It lays out reasons for having your child be "older" for his age and how your upbringing and culture are big predictors of how successful you will be. This is an outstanding read and I gleaned so much inspiration from it.
Pope Joan: Donna Woolfolk Cross
Absolutely, positively fantastic. I loved this book for so many reasons. First, the writing was just the way I like it...descriptive enough to get a point across but not too flowery. It was historical fiction written by a woman who usually writes only non-fiction, so she did her homework. It is about a woman in the 800s (yes, the 800s). I love how it explores the crusades and the Catholic church during the dark ages. I loved watching the heroine fight for light, truth, and knowledege. I love the way they bring in ancient great thinkers and try to reconcile logic and faith. I was amazed by what life was like then. The author also did a wonderful job of really giving us an actual setting...what they ate, how they cared for the ill, how they socialized. It was just so good. At the end the author gives evidence for what she has written and it felt so satisfying. The best part though? I couldn't put it down. I was hooked during the first chapter. Oh, and it's clean which is always a bonus.
Okay, so maybe not all your problems...What are you reading, cooking and baking this fall?
11 comments:
Ahh, if only I cooked. Anything I make is easy peasy but I do have a pretty darn good recipe for lasagna rolls that's for the most part healthy. As far as books go I tried to read a new book by Jonathan Franzen called Freedom. It was such garbage that I stopped after skipping many pages and returned it to the library. I need to find something really good to make up for it.
Love to hear your recent reads. I love people in my life who will find great books for me.
Last thing I read Catching Fire. loved it.
Last thing I cooked BLT. hadn't had one in years. YUM!
Pumpkin cookies remind me of you and Jen, living in those purple apartments. I think Jen had us make them once a week! ha!
Aaaah, this has for sure solved a few of my problems this month!! Thanks Brooke, I am going to try these recipes and I have been looking for a new book! Woo HOO!!
My van door still doesn't close right and we still have a dying tree in the backyard! But thanks so much for solving some major problems I encounter. I already have all three of those books on my goodreads to-read list, thanks to you. I'm excited for all three. I'm almost done with one of my new favorite books, "The Book Thief". Genius writing.
I'm a blog stalker and found your blog, but I am so glad I did! Ever since that day I tasted that soup at your house I've been craving it. I am also going to make the cookies and start reading. Thanks Brooke for helpful info! By the way your blog is so cute! See ya tomorrow!
You know I love posts that can solve ALL MY PROBLEMS, and I think I'm heading down the right track now. Soup and a good book....what else does one need???
Thanks for sharing the recipes. I'm always looking for something new and yours sound yummy. I'm going to try them this week!
you really did solve all my problems...always needing a nudge to try something new for dinner. I've been wanting to find an EASY pumpkin cookie recipe. And we're meeting as a book club in a couple weeks to suggest books for next year! Thanks. And I loved all the Halloween and wedding pics too. You Romneys are stinking cute!
Loved Outliers and Pope Joan. I'm excited to try your squash soup. I will be making Panera Bread's broccoli cheese soup next Sunday...a little fattening but such a good soup for a cold day. You can Google the recipe. It's even better in a sour dough bread bowl.
p.s. you should do these posts more often. loved your suggestions!
Love soup and love good reads! Thanks! Makes me want to snuggle down and eat soup and read a good book at the same time. Random question-if you don't mind me asking but where did you find your fantastic brown leather sectional? We are shopping around for a new couch and I would like something like it.
I love those cookies...have already made them at least 3 times this fall! And I eat them 10 at a time too. One time I put cream cheese frosting on them- that was really good but definitely can't eat 10 at a time of those!
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