chik n' pastry

Finding My Second Wind

Posted on October 13, 2009 | 10 Comments

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Butternut Squash Salad
I will be talking about that bowl of loveliness in a moment – I promise.


But first, I have to talk about this:


New blog header


Don’t you just adore it?! Don’t you want to hug it and squeeze it and call it George?! I sure do. Luckily, I have a very creative friend who was willing to put some brain power into making me a fancy new header. I’d become a little bored with the “google images” and also felt a little guilty (a little) for stealing images of pretty pictures I didn’t take…


You’ve heard me talk about my buddy Jennifer (aka JSimps, or sometimes just Simps), right? Jennifer recently started her very own design biz using Etsy, and she uses her blog, Second Wind Studios, to talk about her new creations and various other things. I’m sure she’d love to design a new header for you too, if you’re in the market for one! She also designs invitations (yes, for weddings too!), cards, pottery, etc. Head on over and chat with her – she’s very nice!


cubed butternut squash



I finally came out of my sickness slump on Friday, following a trip to my Jewish internist a few floors down. I only see him when I’m desperate, which is due simply to my aversion of taking medicine unless all else fails – it did, once the cookies were gone. Aside from my one annoyance with him, which is his inability to read anything in my chart before walking in (yes, I know…big whoop), he’s a pretty nice guy. I only wanted to punch him once at this visit – right after he made the assumption that I was a nurse because I’d switched specialties (pediatrics to cancer), because surely I wasn’t a doctor.. and what is a genetic counselor, anyway? Meh…

But the meds slowly relieved the ickiness, and by Friday I was feeling more like a 6 than a 3, which was good since the parentals were en route. Yes, my (divorced) parents, for whatever reason decided it’d be a good idea to drive up together from North Carolina for a weekend. Who flies these days, anyway – right?! Well, 17 hours later, they were here (yes, 17…. starting from Wilmington, meeting up in Fayetteville, & making pit stops at various intervals), and both were in need of a stiff drink!

Unlike most divorced parents, they can stand each other for a few days (with a few wise quips at each other thrown in for good measure), and they even choose to without any coercion. So visit they did, and cook I did thanks be to the z-pak, the aforementioned cookies, and a lot of sleep. They are super-easy guests in that right – no touring the city or fancy restaurants required, just visiting and eating whatever I make them!

roasted squash with cranberries and pine nuts

For dinner one night, I insisted on using butternut squash as a side dish, in some way. I’ve seen them in the stores and at the markets, and have literally been fiending for the nutty, creamy vegetables since last year. My friend Jenn from The Whole Kitchen recently blogged about a tasty squash salad, and I found a version that reminded me a little of her Colorado find. It had everything I love – chipotle pepper, homemade ranch dressing, said squash, dried cranberries, and nuts. How could I go wrong?

For most of you – this salad will be nothing short of nirvana. I’m serious. For me, it was too -although my salad nirvana was achieved sans lettuce. Being a supertaster and all, I am highly sensitive to bitterness (hence the need for added flavor in my coffee & pure hatred of brussel sprouts). Though I’d never tasted escarole, I always like to try everything once, so I went with the recommended lettuce for this recipe and gave it a shot. I could have easily been eating aspirin, and attribute it to the escarole bitterness (which in lettuce doesn’t usually bother me – I love arugula, frisee, and endive) coupled with a spicy dressing. Next time I make this salad (and there will be a next time), I’m using romaine, and you should too. I’m saving escarole for other salads with more sweetness to counterbalance that hefty bite. Pops & Chris ate all (or most of) the lettuce, mom left some behind and ate around it like me.


Maybe she’s a supertaster too?


Romaine & Butternut Squash Salad w/ chipotle-ranch dressing
Adapted from Cuisine at Home; serves 8



ingredients
1 1/2 lb butternut squash, peeled & cubed
2 T evoo
salt & pepper
1 clove garlic
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/4 c buttermilk
2 T fresh lime juice
2 t honey
1 1/2 t minced chipotle chile pepper in adobo sauce (San Marcos, gluten-free)
8 c romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 c dried cranberries
1/4 c toasted pine nuts


instructions
preheat oven to 400 F. cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil. toss squash with oil, salt, and pepper. roast on the baking sheet until browned, 25-30 minutes. cool to room temp.



mince garlic with 1/2 t salt to form paste then place in bowl. add mayo, buttermilk, lime juice, honey, and chipotle. mix and blend with immerision blender until smooth (or puree in food processor). season as needed. refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 2 days.



toss romaine with desired amount of dressing. toss in squash, cranberries, and pine nuts.


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Category: friends/family, gluten-free, healthy, recipe, salad, vegetarian
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Comments

10 Responses to “Finding My Second Wind”

  1. Chow and Chatter
    October 13th, 2009 @ 9:53 pm

    great salad and nice new banner

  2. Caroline Shields
    October 13th, 2009 @ 10:48 pm

    Yeah for the new banner! So intrigued that you can handle frisee, it's way too bitter for me.

  3. Jennifer
    October 13th, 2009 @ 10:54 pm

    NICE!!! thanks for the shout out…
    Yay, for butternut squash, too!

  4. Jenn Sutherland
    October 14th, 2009 @ 7:52 am

    Thanks for the blog love – glad you found some squashy inspiration! LOVE LOVE LOVE the new banner – gorgeous! And chipotle ranch…that sounds amazing, and makes me sad that dairy and I are not on speaking terms. But, I've got another butternut in the fridge, and am formulating a plan for it this evening…

  5. judiegh
    October 14th, 2009 @ 9:17 am

    That salad was really good without the lettuce-will be really good with romaine. Everything you cooked was great and it was greater to spend time with you-you and Chris are the reason for going to Chicago (even if I didn't get to see Oprah-saw the studio). Enjoyed the whole visit!!! Luv Luv, Mom

  6. Scrumpy
    October 14th, 2009 @ 11:14 am

    Yum! I just did a smoked sausage, butternut squash, and wild rice soup this week that is so good. I added in some nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves for good measure…

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/smoked-sausage-butternut-squash-and-wild-rice-soup-recipe/index.html

  7. Emily
    October 14th, 2009 @ 1:21 pm

    Love the new banner! I may reach out to Jennifer and have her whip me up something! Mmmmm butternut squash. I just tried a butternut squash chicken salad. The recipe isn't quite where I want it yet, but it's still in the works.

  8. Heather
    October 14th, 2009 @ 7:56 pm

    @Caroline: weird isn't it? but again, maybe it's the ingredients that go along with it that counterbalance the bitter. this spicy dressing just did NOT work in that way!

    @Simps: no prob. I LOVE it, have I said that yet?

    @Jenn: I wonder if there is any way to make it with soy? I didn't actually buy buttermilk – I made it by adding lemon juice to milk (white vinegar works too, I think). i dunno…..

    @mom: we'll work on the Oprah tix next time!

    @Scrumpy: that recipe sounds excellent! I made a barley risotto with some last night – i'm sure i'll blog about it soon!

    @Emily: definitely contact her – ya coming to the next IC battle or WHAT?

  9. Lindsey
    October 15th, 2009 @ 12:42 pm

    I love the new header!

  10. Curried Butternut Squash Soup | chik n' pastry
    March 1st, 2010 @ 1:55 pm

    [...] fall right about now. Although I love the weather of the summer, I love the food of the fall. I couldn’t wait for the winter squash to take root in the Whole Foods’ produce section and farmers’ markets, I am so excited [...]

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