Julie & Julia... & Lynn?

Okay, I'm re-committing to blogging... not every day, but when something strikes me. And today, something did. 'Dropped by the grocery store and grabbed a few things that sounded good. First thing on my list? Butternut squash. We've become addicts this winter. Arrived home with the squash and a few other fruits and vegetables (the cadbury eggs are considered a fruit, by the way).I omitted the bacon, baked the squash brushed with a touch of olive oil for about an hour prior to tossing in with the chicken. I had cilantro instead of parsley, so used that instead and actually think it was better for it. I also added one and a half bananas... they are amazing, by the way... Then I served over quinoa. Tasty and v. healthy.

Steve, in his best "Top Chef" voice told me my flavor profiles were perfection. (This is why I cook for this man).

What a nice Monday-night miracle to find a new, untried recipe which you have all the ingredients for... and you end up loving it!!! And now, my husband is cleaning up the dishes as I blog... (another reason I cook for him!) ahh... life is as sweet as those bananas in honey. Now if I could just figure out the margin alignments on my blog... Getting greedy, I guess.

EASIEST EVER CHICKEN MARYLAND Printed from COOKS.COM 2 chicken breasts, cut into cubes. 3-4 slices of bacon (optional) 1 banana, sliced 1/2 of a butternut squash, cubed (or more if wanted) parsley, salt, pepper 1 can tinned sweet corn butter a little honey Sauté the chicken, bacon (optional) and butternut squash. When nearly done, push everything to one side of the pan. Add the banana and a squirt of honey; sauté the banana in the honey over medium-high heat. Add the sweet corn and some fresh parsley, and a good dollop of butter. Mix altogether, making sure chicken is cooked. Serve hot. A sweet, buttery dish... great on a cold day.

Southern Charm

Just three old salts hanging out.

We just returned from a lovely week with friends in the Carolinas and Georgia. We'd never been there before, but we quickly fell in love with the people, the architecture.... and the food!

Oh my goodness, the food: fried chicken, barbecued pork, shrimp and grits, key lime pie, black bottom pie, pecan pie, red velvet cake, pralines, pecan chicken, deep fried pickles (I'm not kidding), deep fried peanuts, boiled peanuts, she-crab soup, crab cakes, crab cakes benedict, catfish, sweet potato casserole... and waffles. Steve says we can't move there because he'd weigh 300 pounds.

We had such a great time with our friends, who are younger, kinder and more energetic than we are. It was a great time discovering another beautiful corner of the country. We were a little shocked when we got off the plane to near freezing temperatures. And the next day, we found ourselves in the first real snow fall that Myrtle Beach, SC had seen in 21 years! Timing is everything. The locals went crazy and we loved seeing snow men lining the beaches like crazy sentinels.

We've decided the best part of traveling is the opportunity that it gives you to imagine your life in a different place and lived in a different way. Every place we go, we swear we're ready to move there. Then we happily return to our little home and routines in sleepy Kirkland and remember why we chose to live in our own beautiful little corner of the world.

A very chilly pelican

Myrtle Beach

It looks warmer than it was

Charleston

I LOVED the Spanish Moss