Cooking with Granna

So many people post recipes on Pinterest, so I thought, "Why not me?" Of course, I can only pin from my blog or other websites. Therefore, it had to be my blog. This recipe is so yummy and colorful, I want to share! The recipe came from a friend, April Joonsar, who told me it came from her mother, who found it in some magazine years ago. 

 Please bear with me as I attempt to share this recipe. You won't regret it, I promise! It is both healthy and delicious.

My family, including my Chinese exchange student, loves it!

 Butternut Squash White Bean Stew

Gather your ingredients.

Cut the onion.

Chop the celery.

Slice the mushrooms (or use canned mushrooms). 

Add to a Dutch oven in which you have put 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Cook over medium heat until vegetables start to brown - about 8 minutes.

Stir in butternut squash that has been peeled and cut into cubes.

Add canned tomatoes, garlic, water (or broth), spaghetti sauce (or tomato paste), rosemary, salt and pepper and diced ham (if desired).  Mix well.

Cover and bring to a simmer.  Simmer until squash is tender, about 25 minutes.  Uncover and stir in beans which have been rinsed and drained. Simmer for another 10-15 minutes.

Serve with cornbread or rolls.  It is hearty and perfect for a cold, rainy day!

Southern style cornbread - not sweet 

and cooked in a  black iron skillet!

Butternut Squash White Bean Stew

2 T olive oil

1 cup slivered onion

3/4 cup thinly sliced celery (about 2 ribs)

2-3 cups sliced mushrooms

4 cups cubed, peeled butternut squash (a 2 lb. squash)

1 15 oz can diced tomatoes (I prefer with basil, or use fire-roasted to kick it up a notch)

2 garlic cloves, pressed

2 cups water or chicken broth (I prefer the broth for more flavor)

2 T spaghetti sauce (or tomato paste)

3/4 dried rosemary, crumbled

1 tsp. coarse salt

1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 15 oz. cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup diced ham (optional - or try bacon)

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add onion, celery and mushrooms. Cook until vegetables start to brown, about 8 minutes.

Stir in squash and all other ingredients, except beans.  Mix well.  Cover and bring to a simmer.  Cook until squash is tender, about 25 minutes.  Do not overcook - the squash will be mushy (yuck).  Uncover and stir in beans.  Heat for another 10-15 minutes.  Serves 6 as a main dish - 8 if a side dish.

A Joyful Project

Today's project involved paint, buttons, glue, glitter, ribbon, plastic sheet, cardboard, styrofoam baskets........and a ten year old girl (my first granddaughter). Spending quality time with her was my goal and quality time in her eyes was creating something. Instead of working on MY projects, I helped her with ideas, gathering materials, instructing, cleaning for HER project. I was her cheerleader.

I know you're wondering and are afraid to ask. YES!! I showed her Pinterest! She LOVED it!!

Sometimes it's good to be a keeper of things that can be reused, recycled, repurposed, or just to create with. She had a great time searching for those elements her creativity longed for, and at least all, except the plastic sheet, were found in one room. I give myself some credit for being organized enough for that!

The plastic sheet covered the dining room table and then everything else covered the plastic sheet. She mixed her own paint. She chose her own bright colors. She decorated with ribbon. She fashioned a word that spoke volumes in its simplicity. She painted with long, even strokes....as carefully as any ten year old could. She glued with precision. And then, the masterpiece was unveiled. JOY! Like a button monogram, the word stood out. I smiled.

Every project should bring JOY!

Goal achieved!

Pinaholics Anonymous - Charter Member!

Hi. My name is Martha and I am a Pinaholic. I confess that I have used Pinterest several times every day. I'm sure I could stop - cold turkey - at any time, but please, don't require it of me. This is a helpful addiction. Pinterest has helped inspire me and given meaning and structure to my day. It is both a blessing and a curse - a blessing of encouragement to change the things I can, a curse because I whine about things I cannot change, and wisdom........well.......the jury is still out on that one.

Pinterest has taught me that I can learn new things. It is teaching this "old dog" new tricks in cooking, organization, repurposing, saving money, crafting, sewing, decorating, and dreaming. I am beginning to feel a sense of pride again in the way my home looks. How and why I lost that pride is a long story for another time. Suffice it to say that it feels good and feeling better to think I may host guests in my home again in the near future.

To keep me motivated, I'm posting photos of my projects. I'm too embarrassed to post any "before" photos. Yes, it has been THAT bad. Just rejoice with me over the changes I'm making and the baby steps of progress to find the old me that has been in hiding for awhile.

This is a cabinet that Steve built before I met him, which means it is probably 30 years old, and it has been used in different rooms for different purposes. I decided Steve should paint the interior and use it as open shelving. I love how the red pops against the green, don't you? I will call the arrangement Revision 1 since I'm sure I will be tweaking the what and how on those shelves. Ignore those lumps on the right. I couldn't keep the animals out of the photo.

My pantry closet is not very large and it was in great need of organization. Dollar Tree baskets fit perfectly - 4 to a shelf.

Don't judge me for the contents of this pantry! And, yes, those are tags tied to each basket with twine. Cute, huh?

Stay tuned as I tackle the unruly and unlovely!