Butternut Squash Soup with Pears & Bacon

I've found this soup recipe relatively easy, South Beach/low carb friendly, filling as a main dish or as a starter, and absolutely YUMMY! I hope you enjoy it as well.

It only takes about 40 minutes to cook, but the prep time is what makes it longer. If you're planning to have it ready with other dishes, my best advice would be to chop your vegetables before you start to cook it. You'll feel less pressure to work quickly, and your bacon won't burn like mine did the first time! :)

Butternut Squash Soup
makes about 2 quarts

Ingredients:
1 large, or 2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 pears, peeled and chopped
1-2 stems celery, chopped
6 slices bacon (or more for taste)
29 ounces chicken stock (2, 14.5 oz cans)
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup Half & Half (seems optional)
Fresh thyme to garnish each bowl (optional)

In stock pot fry bacon strips til crispy. Remove bacon and place on plate with paper towel to absorb some of the grease. Remove all but about 1 tablespoon of the grease in the pot (from the bacon). In the remaining grease, saute' onions until slightly brown and translucent. When onions are sauteed, add squash, pears, celery, and chicken stock to pot and stir together gently. Bring to boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook about 30 minutes, or until vegetables are very tender to fork. When contents are soft, turn off heat, cool slightly, then use blender to gradually puree' ingredients to soup consistency. Scoop only about half a blender full at a time, and when blended, pour into holding container until all of the soup is blended. (TIP: hold lid on tight when blending hot food because the heat and steam can cause the lid to pop off!)

When ingredients are blended return to pot and add seasonings and bacon and simmer 10 more minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Add half & half, if desired, and serve, garnished with fresh sprig of thyme. If too sweet, add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy! :)

Harvest Dinner

Tonight I was so inspired by my successful dinner that I had to share. I served Balsamic Chicken with Cherry Sauce and Creamy Horseradish Dip, steamed fresh green beans, scalloped potatoes, and to start, Butternut Squash with Pears and Bacon Soup. It was a hit, and fun to make, and not totally time consuming to prepare.

Here are recipes for the Balsamic Chicken and sauces:

Balsamic Chicken: makes marinade for 8-10 medium to large chicken breasts

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thawed and patted dry so they are not soggy
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbls. Dijon mustard (I used Honey Dijon Mustard, because that is what I had)
• Salt and pepper to season chicken to taste

Stir together in a small bowl or cup the balsamic vinegar and mustard. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and place chicken breasts on sheet (you will only baste one side). Season top of chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste. Baste each chicken breast with the balsamic/mustard marinade. The balsamic vinegar will sort of turn to a glaze when cooked, so moderate to liberal basting is fine.

Roast chicken breasts on baking sheet at 400 degrees for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Serve with cherry sauce or creamy horseradish dip (recipes to follow).

Cherry Sauce: makes enough for about 4 chicken breasts

• 1/2 cup Cherry Preserves
• 2 Tbls. balsamic vinegar

Combine ingredients in small saucepan and heat about 5 minutes or until reduced and thickened. Sauce will thicken more as it cools. Serve on top of, or on the side of, Balsamic Chicken (recipe above).

Creamy Horseradish Dip/sauce: depending on taste, makes enough for 4 to 8 chicken breasts.

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 Tbls. prepared horseradish

Stir together milk and garlic powder in saucepan. Scald milk (til bubbling around edges of pot; this helps make the sauce frothy and creamy). In a blender combine the scalded milk, sour cream, and horseradish and blend until frothy and creamy. Serve on top of or on the side of Balsamic Chicken. (TIP: when blending hot foods in blender, hold lid on tightly to prevent popping off.)

**My dad enjoyed dipping his bites of chicken into both sauces...let me know what you prefer. :)

Taco Potatoes

Baked potatoes traditionally are topped with butter, cheese, sour cream, and chives. My in-laws make a twist on the classic baked potato by adding standard taco ingredients. Taco Potatoes are a Murray family favorite, and not only are they easy to prepare, but they are very filling. Don't let your eyes get bigger than your stomach or be prepared for leftovers. :)

Taco Potatoes
~basically the baked potato is your "taco shell" and the other ingredients can be as few or many as you desire.

Baking potatoes, small to medium sized, 1 per person

• Bake potatoes thoroughly. To cut down on time I like to bake them in the microwave for about 4-8 minutes, (poke holes in them first) and then finish baking them in the oven or on the barbecue.

Toppings, enough for each potato: use as many as you like or get creative with your own list

• Ground meat (turkey or beef), browned with taco seasonings in a skillet
• Shredded cheese, we like Monterey Jack and Mild Cheddar
• Black olives, sliced
• Spring onions and/or red or white onions, chopped small
• Bacon, cooked crispy and chopped
• Sour cream
• Ground pepper
• Ortega peppers, chopped (1 small can should be enough for 4 potatoes)
• Tomato, chopped
• Lettuce, chopped fine, (use sparingly)
• Avocado, chopped
• Taco sauce, optional (mild to hot)

Some creative alternatives could be chicken, garlic, salsa, beans, broccoli...please share any ideas you typically enjoy on a taco, that would be a treat to this recipe.

Enjoy!

Chicken "Pizza"...hold the carbs

When my parents were on the Atkin's diet my mom tried to be creative with the low-carb, no-carb recipes for dinner. There is one I always have to remind myself to make, which is easy, aside from a little prep time. It doesn't have a specific recipe, and allows itself to several variations, depending on your tastes.

Chicken "Pizza"

~Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (enough for amount of people to be served), medium to small size, and pounded flat to about 1/2 inch thick. (The chicken is the "pizza dough.")

~Use pizza sauce, tomato sauce, pesto or garlic spread lightly over the chicken breast. I prefer to use melted butter with minced garlic, but you are the chef. Top "pizza" with any desired toppings similar to that of your favorite pizza. Here are some topping ideas:

• Mozzarella and tomato slices
• Variety of shredded cheeses
• Olives, green onions, bell peppers, white or red onion
• Sausage, salami, bacon (cut into bits), or pepperoni
• Mushrooms, pine nuts, artichokes
• Roasted garlic, basil or rosemary

Truly the options are limited to your taste. Be warned, it is very filling; you may find this a good meal to prepare in hopes of leftovers for lunch the next day.

When your "pizza" is prepared place on baking sheet (I like to line with tin foil) in a 350 degree oven for about 12-20 minutes, or until chicken breast is cooked through. Since the toppings will most likely already be cooked, you just need to make sure the raw chicken is thoroughly baked. Cooking times may vary depending on amount of toppings, as well as how thinly you flattened the chicken breast.

I suggest enjoying this feast with a fork and knife. :) It can stand alone if you prepare it with a variety of toppings, or serve as a main dish with vegetables.

Let me know how creative you get with your Chicken "Pizza."

Carb-smart Cocktail

Once again, I turned to my Low Carb Cookbook (see side panel), and I found a low-carb refreshment, suitable for even those low-carb skeptics, at least for the 21 and older crowd. :)

Bellini Spritzers...carb rating 8
yields 9, 1 cup servings

• 2 pounds fresh peaches, peeled and halved
• 1 bottle (750 ml) Champagne, chilled
• 2 cups sparkling mineral water, chilled
  

1. Place Peaches in a food processor; process until smooth
2. Combine puree, Champagne, and mineral water in a large pitcher, stir gently. Pour into chilled glasses. Serve immediately.

Substitutions:
4 cups frozen sliced peaches, thawed, if fresh peaches are not in season.
Reduce carb count by 1 when you substitute Champagne for 3 cups diet lemon-lime carbonated beverage, such as Diet 7-up, or Diet Sprite

Presentation:
Peach wedge on glass rim
Try blending with ice for thick consistency...try topping with real whip cream (no carbs!)??

Open to suggestions...enjoy, and as always, drink responsibly. (Especially if your low-carb diet is revealing a confident, sassy new you!)

Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

I found this recipe in The Complete Step-by-Step Low Carb Cookbook. With all the low carb diets out there this cookbook seemed the most practical, and yummy... :) there are some great recipes in it, varying from breakfast to snacks, to lunches, dinners, even desserts. If you are interested in following a low carb diet, the cookbook even has a diet plan-of-action, with suggested meal plans for each day.

To get your copy of The Complete Step-by-Step Low Carb Cookbook go to my link in the panel to the right and support our adoption plans by purchasing it here through Amazon.com. :)

Ok, here is a recipe I just love. If you're serious about a low carb diet, this recipe falls in the "phase two" part of the plan:

Whole Wheat Banana Muffins:

I left out the wheat germ and the recipe was still very good. It does sound yummy to leave it in, so I'll have to try it that way soon. :)

**The toasted wheat germ not only adds nutty flavor to the muffins, but also a dose of vitamin E, a vitamin that may prevent blood clots, strokes, and cancer.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt (or less)
• 1- 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (about three large)
• 1/3 cup "measures like sugar" calorie free sweetener (actually, I just used white sugar since it's not that much per muffin in the long run)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• Cooking spray, or Crisco to grease muffin tin

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with knife. Combine flours and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in the center of flour mixture. Combine banana and next 3 ingredients in a separate bowl; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moist.
3. Spoon mixture into muffin cups coated with cooking spray, filling two-thirds full. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into center of muffins).

Great served warm, or next day. Great for on the go snacks or breakfast sides. Try a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg for a variation. :)

Enjoy!

Made Possible by the Woman Behind the Man...of course!

Looking at my collection of measuring cups, mixing bowls, and serving ware, I laughed at my collection of Pyrex measuring cups. I have 5 total; two 2-cup, one 1-cup, and two 4-cup glass measuring cups. I laughed because I remember growing up with maybe two total in the house; how spoiled I must seem...but I use them constantly and they are my reliable stand-by's for almost every meal, confection, baked good, or, well, anything!

This of course, got me curious about the history behind these irreplaceable kitchen go-to's. In my graphic design and commercial art training, I loved the history of brand logos, which are common today, such as Arm and Hammer baking soda, and Morton salt. I found a detailed history of Pyrex's handy glassware (casseroles, baking dishes, measuring cups, etc.) on their website: http://www.pyrexware.com/.

Interestingly, the glass composition was designed back in the early 1900's when Corning Glass Works was asked to make weather resistant lamp globes for the railroads. The globes were so resistant and well made that Corning realized a decline in sales due to long-lasting product.

No surprise to most of us women, who have been defending the kitchen for centuries, that the now standard kitchen glassware was inspired by the wife of one of Corning's latest scientists in 1913. The story is as told:

"In July 1913, a series of events involving Bessie Littleton, the wife of the company's newest scientist, forced Corning managers to focus their attention on the consumer venture. Apparently, Mrs. Littleton had used a Guernsey brand casserole only twice when it fractured in the oven. Knowing the strength of the glass her husband worked with on a daily basis, she implored him to bring home a substitute from the Corning Glass Works plant. He returned the next evening with the bottoms of two sawed-off battery jars made from low-expansion glasses. Mrs. Littleton cooked a sponge cake in one of the surrogate baking dishes. She noted several remarkable findings:

• The cooking time was shorter

• The cake did not stick to the glass; it was easy to remove with little adhesion

• The cake was unusually uniform

• The flavor of the cake did not remain in the dish after washing

• She could watch the cake bake and know it was done by looking at the underside.

Mr. Littleton brought his wife's creation to work the following day. Laboratory researchers inspected the cake, which was a "remarkable uniform shade of brown all over." The men deemed it delicious and very well baked. Thus began a two-year process to perfect this new invention. The notion of baking in glass was a whole new concept to the public. In 1915, a wondrous new line of "glass dishes for baking" appeared in the nation's hardware, department and china stores. On May 18, 1915, Boston department store Jordan Marsh placed the first PYREX bakeware order."

The rest, apparently, was history. What impressed me most was how they marketed the revolutionary glassware as "energy efficient," saving oven time, as well as clean up time. In addition, the sturdy glass was economical, not only because of it's durability, but because it proved to waste less food, a commodity in early century wartime: "Bread baked an inch higher and even cheap cuts of meat tasted better when cooked in glass."

And to think, it didn't take an act of congress to move an efficient, time, resource, and energy saving kitchen aid to market. It only took a woman who had the foresight to suggest a better product for the everyman, or perhaps, the everyWOman.

To read the full story visit The History of Pyrex (R).