Vegetables

What's not to like with vegetables? I'm surprised at how foreign vegetables are to my students. If a dinner doesn't have at least two vegetables as sides and a salad as well, it doesn't feel complete. I find myself feeling like I should eat more tomatoes just because by Wednesday (so says the weather man) they will all be frozen. After they're gone, we will survive on those tasteless things in the stores that are labeled "tomatoes." My recipe to you:

Squash in Sour Cream

1 ½ pounds Hubbard or Acorn squash
2 Tbsp. Butter, divided
1 tsp. sugar
1 Tbs. instant onion (blend dried minced onion in blender until the size of sesame seeds)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. dill weed
1/2 cup sour cream
pepper, 1/4 tsp. Mrs. Dash seasoning and 1/8 tsp. dill weed to sprinkle on top

1. Scrub the squash, cut half and remove the seeds.
2. Cut in smaller sections to fit in the pan.
3. Cover the squash with water and bring to a boil on high heat. Lower temperature to a low boil and cook about 15 minutes, or until tender.
4. Drain the squash in a colander and cool with running cold water. Using a spoon, remove the squash from its shell and cut into bite-sized pieces.
5. Melt 1 Tbsp. butter in a saucepan or in the saucepan that was used to cook the squash.
6. Add the squash to the saucepan with the butter, cover with a lid and toss the squash to coat with butter. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. sugar.

Sauce to squeeze over the cooked squash at serving time:
1. Melt remaining 1 Tbsp. butter, add onion; remove from heat.
2. Add sour cream, salt and ¼ teaspoon dill weed, stir well.
3. Place hot squash on platter; sprinkle with pepper.
4. Place dill sauce in zip lock bag. Snip a small part of a corner and pipe all the sour cream mixture over the squash.
5. Sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon dill weed and Mrs. Dash Seasoning.

Little Patriot

Food Combinations

Surprisingly good combinations:

strawberry freezer jam - sharp cheddar cheese
saltine crackers - honey
tuna - mustard
swiss chard - garlic
tender new lettuce - sugar
fish - mayonnaise & pickles (tartar sauce)
french fries - Wendy's chocolate shake
fresh green beans - bacon & new potatoes
swiss cheese - avacados
grilled cheese sandwiches - ketchup (a family favorite)
apple juice - rice crispies (thanks Tyler)
fresh tomatoes - mayonnaise and toast
red licorish - apples
popcorn - dots

....................other ideas?....................

Snake Attack!

For the past few summers, we've had SNAKES. Some may say these gentle creatures are taking care of the bugs in my yard. I say they are out to kill me (repeated instances of shock-induced coma). This morning as the garage door repair man asked to see the problem with our door, I felt something on my ankle. I looked down - SNAKE!!! - I squeeled, jumped onto the guy's shoulders, and mentally noted the notching away of lifespan years as I encounter these snakes.

The garage door guy is now gone, claiming that he forgot his tools (yeah) and I'll probably sit around all day waiting for him to work up the courage to come back. These particular snakes are sneaky. They wait until I am calmly digging away in my yard, gently admiring a new flower, or relaxing by my bubbling fountain to jump out from their hiding place, rearing up unexpectedly in full length, with fangs bared.

I can't take it any longer. Last summer I decided to change my mindset and just love them for eating bugs. By the end of summer, however, I had received counsel from Jeanne to "kill them with a shovel - there are no good snakes - ya gotta be fast." As hard as it was, I switched to snake retaliation and snuffed out each one I saw. However, I soon became weary of running to fetch the shovel in time to behead them and once again resolved to put up with them.....UNTIL NOW....I am sharpening my shovel.