Creative Cucina

After a trip to a local farm two weeks ago, I was inspired by all the pumpkins and squash available. I love butternut squash especially and I’m always looking for new ways to prepare it. One of the best ways to prepare butternut squash is to roast it simply with olive oil and shallots (roasting, in my opinion, is the only way to cook the squash without it falling apart). I found so many inspiring recipes in the October issue of Everyday Food magazine (my new favorite) that I had to try some. They were big hits with my family! Some of my favorites: Rigatoni with Roasted Pumpkin, Sage & Goat Cheese in which I substituted roasted butternut squash–Delicious! 

After making a huge bowl of pasta (enough to serve 4 hungry or 6 normal portions), it was one squash down, one to go. So for the next recipe, I tried the Butternut Squash Lasagna from Martha Stewart. It was heaven but I did make a few changes only because I wanted to use up what I had on hand.

I made macaroni & cheese earlier in the week and had left over cheese sauce (butter & flour whisked for a minute over medium heat, add milk. Whisk until milk boils/thickens. Remove from heat, add shredded cheese, salt & pepper, etc.) I layered the no boil lasagna noodles (I wasn’t feeling that industrious that I would make my own pasta noodles now) with the cheese sauce, ricotta mixture from the recipe, butternut squash mixture from the recipe, and grated parmesan cheese. Repeat 2 times. Bake for 35 mins and that’s it. A delicious and satisfying dinner with no meat. We’re not vegetarians but I made a vegetarian meal by accident. I paired it with a salad of greens, thinly sliced apple, toasted walnuts, goat cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette.

This is a card I made a few weeks ago and forgot about posting it. I made it for my sister who is expecting. While she thinks it’s a boy, I think it’s a girl. But who knows–we’ll find out in a couple weeks!

I made a similar card once, using the sticky cut letter “h” with glitter and the happy stamp from Happy Everything. I loved the design so much I am hoarding it. I may never part with it, unless it’s a VERY special person. A very special person I know well enough to ask for it back after I give it to them! Hahaha! I sometimes do that with my mom, but only if it’s an invitation or something I didn’t make enough to leave myself a sample. She doesn’t mind, I swear!

Supplies: Cardstock: Old olive, Georgia Peach DSP, regal rose, pink pirouette, whisper white; Ink: Regal Rose; Accessories: Sticky cuts star, green fine glitter, fire pink square rhinestone brads, dimensionals, saffron poly twill ribbon.

I was on such a role there for a while, then life got in the way and I’ve been so busy with work that creativity took a backseat. It’s been a struggle to get back into it, but tomorrow is our 3rd Anniversary and I wanted to make my husband a card. So, I sat down at my desk and started playing around with my Autumn Vines DSP and the owl from Love Owlways. I love that paper; the designs usually come pouring out when I use it. It was a slow process tonight in making that card. I suppose I’m easing back into it. Hopefully I’ll be back into the swing of things soon.

I don’t want my husband to see the card yet so I’ll post it tomorrow, along with another card I struggled with and finally got it to work. It uses the coluzzle and boy let me tell you I am coluzzle challenged! I just can’t use that thing to save my life. I’m practicing, but it’s going to take a while 🙂