The Scribble Pad: Wish List

Showing posts with label Wish List. Show all posts

Summer Adventure List

When summer rolls around I swing wildly between sitting around doing nothing or trying to cram it all in. For me, it takes diligence to find a middle between these two extremes. We have our family vacations with both sets of grandparents. But we also really want to make solid family memories with just the four of us. I have hopes, ideas in my head. I worry about putting too much stock in one thing. This season is short and I want it to feel complete. Activities abound, and I don't want to miss out, perhaps at the risk of driving my family crazy.

This is our list, intentionally kept both concise and flexible. Can a list ever be those two things? We want to set our adventures up for success. Meanwhile, I will be dreaming up a way to make this list prominent in our home for the next few months.

Strawberry Picking
DC Zoo
Golfing
Camping
Surrey Cars on the boardwalk

Outdoor Movie Night
Jacksonville Zoo - feed the giraffes, Behr has been talking about this since last year!
Blueberry Picking
Sailing
Water balloon fight

Putt Putt Golf
Kite flying
Hiking
Trip to New York City
Baseball Game

Do you have summer traditions? Or your own adventure list? Our summers look very different from the way Mark or I grew up, so we are still feeling out what this season is for our family. How about you?

CSA Inspired: Stuffed Acorn Squash

I find myself reinventing squash each fall. Roasted with butter and a bit of spice, loaded with goodness and stuffed, or chopped into soup or casseroles. It is never quite the same. Monday night, we cooked for our neighbors and made Apple and Sausage stuffed squash. Adapted from several recipes, most closely following Iowa Girl Eats.

Ingredients:

three acorn squash
evoo, salt & pepper as needed
one breakfast sausage log
three apples, peeled, cored, and diced
about two cups chicken broth
one box/bag of stuffing cubes

Directions:
I have never microwaved my squash before cooking as Iowa Girl suggests, and it definitely cut down the roasting time, key for a weeknight. But my general aversion to microwaves would lead me to skip this step is prepping on a weekend or with more time.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Pierce acorn squash several times with a knife, then place on a microwave-safe plate and cook for 2 minutes
Cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, then microwave for 1 additional minute
Lay squash halves on a baking sheet, skin side down
Drizzel with extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until tender. Note, different size squash may lead to varying roasting times
While Squash is roasting, brown sausage in a dry pan over medium high heat
After sausage begins to brown, add apples and cook until tender
In a separate saucepan, cook stuffing according to package directions, substituting chicken broth for water Combine stuffing with apples and sausage and fill each acorn "bowl" with a mound of goodness
Broil for 10 minutes, or until the tops get a crusty golden brown

If you ask my husband, he would this meal should be paired with a Sam Adam's Boston Lager.

Enjoy!

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Now that it is October and I am posting about roasting squash, I can officially admit that it is Fall. I am letting go of Summer (finally) and embracing this new season. Below is our family bucket list. We would love to hear from you, what are your favorite autumnal activities? Is there anything new you hope to add to the list this year?