I haven’t decided yet if it should be crockpot or crock pot.  I’ve seen both spellings in different online dictionaries, but my spellchecker doesn’t like crockpot, so I think I’ll go with crock pot, what do you think?  Anyway, this crock pot stew recipe is so simple to make and pretty tasty.  It’s a Greek stew that uses the chopped butternut squash from Wednesday’s tutorial.  My favorite part of the recipe was left out of the photo above, and it’s the feta sprinkled over the top at the end.  Whoops! Read more

See that funny guy up above?  He looks kind of like the start of a balloon animal to me.  He’s a butternut squash and I decided I wanted to try one last week because I don’t think I ever have before.  Don’t let the mild exterior fool you, inside he’s a bright orangey yellow and packed with fiber.  Plus he’s full of nutrients, especially vitamin A, we’re talking 300% your daily value in 1/2 cup of cubed squash.  What a nutrition powerhouse!  Here’s a quick photo tutorial on how to peel and seed the squash, with a recipe soon to follow. Read more

Hello, my name is Diana, and I am obsessed with cheese.  I’ve stood for a full 30 minutes in front of a cheese case, not speaking or touching anything, simply staring at the abundance and variety of amazing cheeses.  I’ve taken a plate full of cheese samples to a corner all by myself so I can savor the nuances of each bite completely without distraction.  My current favorite is a lovely orange cheese called Mimolette, which I got hooked on when my friends Todd and Diane brought it on our trip to Mexico.  But I have to tell you, Mimolette has a dirty little secret. Read more

I’ve been on a baking kick lately, which is rather surprising since I consider myself a cook, not a baker.  But I’ve had the flavors of vanilla and orange kicking around in the back of my mind for weeks, and decided that the best way to play with that was to start with the simple buttery goodness of shortbread cookies.  Eric said these were “kinda dainty” (which led to him making his own oatmeal cranberry cookies!), but I thought that made them perfect to pair with tea or coffee! Read more

Spring is here!  Okay maybe not really, but we’ve been getting some unseasonably nice weather in Washington, while so many of my friends in other states are getting the crazy weather we usually have.  So I thought I’d share a drink that’s sure to make anyone in any location feel like spring is on the way.  Fresh cucumber juice is so simple to make, and it’s a beautiful fancy drink that’s perfect for parties.  Plus it’s alcohol free!

Read more