Butternut Squash Lasagna:

Based on a recipe from Giada De La Laurentis

As part of our New Year resolution, I've been making more and more of our dinner. Jeff ordered a box of veggies to be delivered weekly and thus, I have no excuse! Unless, I want to waste food...

One of the challenges I'm attempting is to try new recipes or ingredients in new ways. This week was lasagna (I've never made one!) AND a butternut squash one to boot.


Ingredients ready to assemble!


Take a basic bechamel sauce...


...add basil and POOF! Lasagna sauce!


All assembled and ready for the oven. In about one hour (and some change), you've got a decadent dinner!

Spinach Salad & Butternut Squash Polpettone

The recipes for this were from Food Network stars Mario Batali (the Polpettone) and Giada De Laurentiis (the salad). Easy to make and yummy!

Bourbon Glazed carrots

I've been cooking a lot lately, and here's one of the highlights: Bourbon-glazed carrots! This one is a slapdash recipe - it's not really organized. A pound or so of carrots (cleaned, peeled, sliced), some water, a tablespoon or so of sugar (brown or granulated), some orange zest, and freshly squeezed OJ (from the same orange you zested), and about two tablespoons of butter. Dump into a skillet over med heat. Cover and cook until carrots are tender-ish (remove cover).



Add one ounce bourbon and black pepper. Let sauce reduce and thicken. Serve & enjoy!

Applesauce Bread

Applesauce Bread (great for fall!)

Apple Sauce:

2 tbsp butter
1 tsp cinnamon
4 Macintosh apples, peeled, cored
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 tbsp water
1/4 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan & cook over medium heat until apples are tender. Approx. 30 minutes. Mash

Applesauce Bread:
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 1/3 cups apple sauce
1/2 cup veg oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup walnut pieces

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Combine carrots, applesauce, oil & vanilla. Add eggs & sugar. Mix together. In another bowl, mix rest of dry ingredients. Stir dry into wet until blended. DO NOT OVERMIX!

Divide into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake 55 minutes until done.