I can cook too!

I love to cook as a matter of fact. I love to bake too. I simply ADORE the holidays because I get to do both ALL THE TIME! Mmmmm, Christmas cookies.

So I thought I would share some favorite recipes for fall. These are all fairly easy and really delicious. I have tried, wherever possible, to substitute or eliminate processed sugars etc. It just tastes better that way.

Gramdma Patti's Famous Acorn Squash Soup

I call it this because by the time I'm old enough to HAVE grandchildren, people will have forgotten that I stole this recipe from Alton Brown. Well, I modified it. He says to use butternut squash, I don't like butternut squash. So there.

6 cups acorn squash
Melted butter
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus 1 teaspoon
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus 1/2 teaspoon (I prefer mixed pepper here)
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
4 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon minced ginger
4 ounces heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Brush the flesh of the squash with a little butter and season with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. On a sheet pan lay the squash flesh side up. Roast for about 30 to 35 minutes or until the flesh is nice and soft.
Scoop the flesh from the skin into a pot and add the stock, honey, and ginger. Bring to a simmer and puree using a stick blender. You can use a regular blender, it's a little messier though. Stir in the heavy cream and return to a low simmer. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

Now, you can forgo the cream. It just isn't as creamy. Huh? Who'd've thunk!

Patti's Delicious Blue-Z Banana Apple Nut Bread

3 eggs
1 cup Vegetable oil
just under 1 cup sugar
2 cups grated Zucchini
1 mashed banana
1 grated medium apple (honey crisp or Mac's are best)
1 pint fresh blueberries (hey, if you can FIND wild ones, use them!)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
(the Southerner that I don't like to admit is in me, prefers pecans.)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8x4 inch loaf pans.

Combine Zucchini, Banana and Apple in a bowl, set aside.
*HINT! There's a lot of juice in apples, before you add them to the mixture, squeeze out a bit.

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs until light and frothy. Mix in oil and sugar. Stir in Zucchini mixture and vanilla. Add blueberries.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, soda, powder, salt and nuts; stir into egg mixture.

Divide batter in prepared pans.

Bake for 60 - 70 minutes or until done.

Variations:

KID-FRIENDLY

Follow above directions, but add 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

I LIKE MINE...

you can put in raisins if you want, pecans, no nuts at all. Make it your own. I did.

STILL TO COME!

Cranberry Pear Relish
Vegan Cheesecake (do-able)
Random Christmas Cookies
Cold-be-gone Lemon-aide