Roasted Butternut Squash with Balsamic and Rosemary

{Photo Credit: Whole Foods Market}

I had made this recipe a few weeks ago, but failed to get pictures before it was gobbled up.  I am going to cook it for Thanksgiving Day, but did not want to wait until then for pictures so that others will be able to make this super easy and delicious side dish for all those Thanksgiving gatherings.  Of course, it does not need to be a holiday to enjoy this yummy side dish.  Another bonus: my four-year old loved it!

Roasted Butternut Squash

with Balsamic and Rosemary

Ingredients

1 Medium Butternut Squash, peeled, cubed, and seeded (approx. 4 cups)

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

1 tsp rough chopped Fresh Rosemary

1/2 tsp Salt

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 375

2.  Add all ingredients to large bowl

3.  Stir or toss to combine

4.  Spread on foil- or silpat-covered baking sheet (I used parchment paper)

5.  Bake for 45 minutes to one hour until brown and tender

6.  Serve and Enjoy!

Recipe Credit: FrugalFreebiesandDeals.com

Cranberry Pork Roast

When it comes to food, this time of year usually brings about thoughts of turkey.  With that turkey comes thoughts of cranberries, but cranberries are not just for turkey.  Chicken and pork pair well with the tart little berries as well.  The cranberry and pork juices from this roast make a fantastic gravy to serve with the pork.

After looking at a variety of cranberry pork recipes, this is the one I have come up with that I use the most.  I love the sweet flavor and the spices.  Best of all, I love the ease of this roast and the smell as it cooks in the slow-cooker.

Cranberry Pork Roast

Roast

2 1/2 - 3-lb boneless rolled pork loin roast

14.5-oz can whole cranberry sauce

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup cranberry pomegranate juice (or your own favorite cranberry juice blend)

1 tsp grated orange peel (or 2 Tbsp orange juice)

1 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Place the roast in the slow cooker.  Mix together sugar, cranberry sauce, juice, grated orange peel, and spices.  Pour over the roast.  Place lid on slow cooker.  Cook on low for 5-7 hours, or until meat is tender.  Remove the roast and keep warm while making the gravy.

Roast before cooking

Gravy

2 cups juices from pork roast

2 Tbsp cornstarch

2 Tbsp cold water

1 tsp salt (optional)

Skim the fat from the juices.  Measure 2 cups of juices, adding water if necessary.  Pour into a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Mix the cornstarch and water into a paste.  Stir into gravy.  Continue stirring and cooking until thickened.  Season with salt, if desired.  Remove from heat.  Serve with sliced pork.

Trick or Treat

 

This year was Addy's very first year going trick-or-treating.  She came with us last year as a bumble bee, but didn't actually go up to the doors.  It only took her one house to catch on to what to do.  By the time we were half-way through, she would open her bag at the beginning of the sidewalk and start yelling "trih-tweet" all the way to the porch, up the steps, and at the un-opened door.  Yeah, she really got into the spirit.  She even tried to trick-or-treat some of the trick-or-treaters--hey, they had candy, right?

It was so much fun to see how thrilled both Owen and Addy were and how much they really enjoyed trick-or-treating.  I love this time we have together as a family and I love seeing all the neighbors out interacting together and with their own families.  Of course, some of the other costumes completely freaked Owen out.  He seems to have acquired my fear of most clowns.  

The amount of candy this year was ridiculous.  I do not ever remember getting that much when I was little.  It's no wonder that Addy wanted to wear her costume the next day and then climbed into the wagon and asked to trick-or-treat again.  I filled up gallon-sized bags of candy for each kid!  I let them have one piece out of their bag each day, so after awhile they tend to forget it's even there.  In fact, the day before Halloween this year I threw out the left-overs from last year's Halloween candy, and Owen did not get nearly as much last year as this.  Guess I'm going to need to help them out a little.

I do admit that I eat my kids' candy.  Right now, I can use the excuse that Addy should not eat the really chewy or hard candy for fear of her choking.  I might be able to get one more year out of that with her, so I will have to come up with some more excuses..I mean reasons...to eat the candy.