Cooking up squash

A coworker of mine has a farm share from a local organic farm.  They were out of town for two weeks so Michael and I are getting to have the spoils.  This past week we received an assortment of squashes, onions, broccoli, leeks, beets, and a head of spinach.  It didn't look like a lot, but boy, we are still trying to eat it all up!  I have made so many new foods...white acorn squash and a leek and spinach creamy pasta dish.  But one of the squashes surprised me a little, I have never eaten it before, or heard of it. 

It is a Long Island Cheese Squash.  Named for being aptly shaped like a wheel of cheese.  

What I read about it stated that it was sweeter than pumpkin, and worked great, or even better, than pumpkin itself in your pumpkin recipes.  Well, if you know me at all, you know I love pumpkin items.  Pancakes, bread, pies, cookies, lattes, you name it!  If it is pumpkin, I will most likely love it!

Pumpkin has gotten really expensive this year.  I am finding it for $1.80 to $2.00 a can.  I got the idea to cook this baby up, then freeze the mashed squash to use in all my favorite recipes.  

First you have to cut it in half and remove the seeds.  I didn't save them because I still have pumpkin seeds left over from Halloween, that and I was running short on time.

Then put them cut side down in a baking dish, and put about 1/2 Cup of water in the pan.  I had to use two pans since these guys were so funny shaped. 

Put them in the oven for about an hour at 375 F.  While waiting, feel free to munch on some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies you made the day before, and drink some hot chai tea.

I love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!

The squash are done when you can stick a fork in them. 

Then just let them cool to where you can handle them, and scoop out the insides.  It comes off really easy once it is baked. 

And if you are like me without any fancy kitchen stuff, just use a potato masher to mash your squampkin  (the cross between a pumpkin and a squash).

Then place desired amounts in freezer bags and freeze until after pumpkin season, so you can enjoy the deliciousness year round. 

I froze mine in 2 Cup portions, just like a can of pumpkin.  I probably had 12 Cups of pumpkin.  I can't wait to try it out!  I have some in the fridge right now waiting for my next pumpkin baking day...I'll let you know how it compares to regular pumpkin!

Homemaker

Since I have been back to real life and living with my hubby in Idaho, I feel I have become quite the little homemaker. Yes, much of what I have been doing has been born of boredom, but it is things I have always wanted to do. I do enjoy being able to cook and have nice meals ready for Michael when he comes home and I really like that I can get everything done (errands, shopping, bills, cleaning, etc) when he is not home so that I am really free when he does arrive. But here are some things I have been doing which I definitely will keep doing, even after things get busier and I find a job. 

Making Buttermilk:

It is sooooooo easy! All you have to do is buy a little cultured buttermilk in the carton from the store, and then you can be making buttermilk forever! I use it in biscuits, pancakes, muffins, coffeecake, really any kind of baking product. I will probably start making bread with it. All you have to do is remember the 3:1 ratio. 3 parts milk to 1 part buttermilk. Just use a clean jar of some kind, put your buttermilk in the bottom, pour the milk on top and mix, then leave someplace warm for 24 hrs and viola! you have buttermilk, just put it then in the fridge and it will last for a couple of weeks at least!

I made this small batch with 1.5 cups milk and 1/2 cup buttermilk

This was a batch of buttermilk I made like 2 weeks ago and it was still great! I made the absolute most awesome buttermilk pancakes with it this morning, I just kind of made them up with what I had. They were kind of healthy too (mom and nancy, you've got to try them!)

Sara's Whole Wheat, Flax, and Oat Pancakes:

1/2 Cup whole wheat flour

1/4 Cup wheat germ

1/4 Cup old fashioned or quick cooking oats

1 Tbs flax seeds

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

1 Cup buttermilk

1 Tbs oil

1 Tbs honey

Mix up the dry ingredients. Beat the egg separately and mix the oil, honey, and buttermilk with the egg. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Cook in skillet over medium heat. Enjoy with maple syrup!

Making my own laundry detergent:

This one may seem kind of strange, because laundry detergent isn't really that expensive, but this way is so much cheaper!! I'm not sure what made me decide to try this, maybe because I've always wondered what they used in laundry detergent to get my clothes clean, but now I am making my own and can know what is in it and is incredibly inexpensive. So far just a little bit gets the clothes really clean!

You only need three ingredients. (1) Washing soda (2) Borax (3) A bar of soap (I used a laundry soap called fels-naptha, but you could use ivory). 

Here is the recipe:

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted. Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved. Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed. Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).

I cut the recipe into only a fourth of what is said up there because I didn't want a whole bucket. I also added 15 drops of essential oils to the final addition of water and mixing, to give it a pretty scent.

Grated soap bar

Final soap


I know, it looks kind of gross, but it works great, and it is cheap!!! That is how much my quarter recipe made and I have been doing laundry for a month now. Granted there are only two of us, but when you look at how much I used out of those boxes of Borax and Washing soda (1/2 cup each), I will be making laundry soap for the next year and the initial cost of all the ingredients was $7.50.  You can also use the borax to clean almost anything else in the house. so it can serve a dual purpose.

The last part of this post has nothing to do with homemaking, it is just something I found at Walmart.

GIANT MARSHMALLOWS!!!!!

I'm not a huge marshmallow eater, but I love rice krispy treats and I do like me some smores. And I absolutely can't wait to go camping to use these! They are giant campfire marshmallows. I have the apple in there for reference. That is a medium/large apple! Imagine a marshmallow that big! They make them now!

I probably won't be able to wait until camping. I can see me out over the grill next time we grill, roasting my marshmallow for a smore. (mom, do they have these at walmart down there? the kids would love them!)

Anyway, that is what I have been up too! I have also managed to finally finish my wedding scrapbook (it only took 2 yrs) and I now have my Pier 1 job so that will be taking up 20 hrs of my week. Everyone have fun making your own buttermilk and laundry detergent!