Mac And SQUASH?

Not a typo....this is not Mac and Cheese.  It is Mac and Squash (or pumpkin, or sweet potato).  What do the three veg's have in common....they are all orange; what color is cheddar cheese...orange.  Get my drift?

I found this recipe in the Charlotte Observer and just had to try it.  It looked very questionable in print.  And I was absolutely not going to buy a pumpkin or a butternut squash and puree it.  Then, I found this on the grocery shelf.

This version of mac and cheese is seriously good.  It is also a good way to hide your vegetables.  I don't actually like butternut squash, but adore this.  I garnished mine with fresh basil.  I also used whole grain macaroni. I did not mix the prosciutto into the dish, but used it as a topping.

Breakfast

I'll admit to not particularly liking breakfast.  I don't like breakfast foods so much.  I was happy travelling in Europe because their breakfast consists of rolls, ham, cheese, smoked salmon....that sort of thing.  My husband usually found the sausage and eggs, while I sat down with the salmon.  A mixed marriage. 

The big advantage of that sort of breakfast while travelling, is that you could take the bread, cheese, and ham and make sandwiches, wrap them in napkins, put them in your purse and have lunch under a nice shade tree beside a castle or on a park bench in the city.

So I digress.  The point of this blog post is to send you to this article; scroll down the page, enjoying the lovely scrapbook page layouts as you go.  Ro really lays it on the line about breakfast, and I agree with her...once I started making myself eat breakfast I found I actually woke up hungry and had a better day.  I go to yoga classes three mornings a week and if I don't eat first, I start shaking halfway through the class.

So find a breakfast you enjoy and eat it!!!  (mine is usually grapenuts, granola, sliced almonds, frozen blueberries, almond milk, french vanilla flavored CoffeeMate.  Yum.

Somebody Likes Chick-Fil-A

My daughter just sent me this pics of her cat:

Wonder if she got one of those nuggets?

Her Garden is Still Growing

My daughter's garden is finally in high performance.  She sent me these photos this morning and I wanted to share.  Two weeks ago she brought me a nice sampling and I can attest that they grow gorgeous, yummy veggies!

Oh, for some of her grape tomatoes....hers actually have taste.  (Remember when these tomatoes first appeared in the supermarkets, they were actually sweet......mass production ruins everything)

Bacon

Yes, I am talking about bacon again. Best food in the world! I love salt and I love crunch, so what is not to love?

My daughter found this lovely photo of bacon. It has to have been Photoshopped, it is so perfect. Enjoy the photo and if you click on the picture, it will take you to an interesting bacon story.

Chicken Salad

I am not generally a fan of chicken salad; I won't order it on a menu. I don't even much like my own homemade version. A couple of years ago I discovered Harris Teeter's salad bar had some I liked, so when I get hungry for it, that is what I buy.

A few years ago I was at a sandwich/salad restaurant that was advertising chicken salad with walnuts and grapes and I forgot my rule and ordered it. My portion had 1/2 of a grape and one walnut. I complained and they looked at me like, "so?"

What is the point of this blog post? I have discovered another source of delicious chicken salad. Quite by accident, I must add. I was shopping in Trader Joe's and about to finish up and noticed a woman drinking a little cup of coffee...Trader's has free coffee of the day and a sample of the day in the back. I usually don't stop. Well, I needed caffeine, so I walked back to the counter. I asked what they were sampling and was told 'chicken salad'.

Well, I was hungry. And the portion was small. So I picked up a sample and WOW! I still don't know how much the carton cost; I just grabbed it.

I checked the ingredients, and they are unusual. There is celery, onion, parsley, cider vinegar, white vinegar, lemon juice. Also, there is toasted almonds, honey, and apple juice. And the best ingredient, that I would never have thought of using: currants.

I'm still not going to order chicken salad at a restaurant, but you'd better believe the TJ's chicken salad is going on my regular shopping list!