Meg, Here's a link that I found to patty pan squash recipes. We had patty pan squash when I was a girl in TN, but I don't remember what we did with them. I always thought they were the cutest things.

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,baked_patty_pan_squash,FF.html


If the link doesn't work, go to cooks.com and type in patty pan squash.

(((HUGS))) Kim

I'm also a cast-iron user. I love my dutch oven for soups and stews in the winter. Can't wait to have a wood stove to cook over in the winter...one day.

Nola, that block party sounds like fun!

Another Fall recipe.

PUMPKIN BREAD

2 cups sugar: 1 brown 1 granulated
3 eggs
1 15 oz can of pumpkin or 2 cups fresh pumpkin
1/2 cup canola oil (or any kind of veg oil)
1/2 cup applesauce
2 Tbls water
2 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp each baking soda and cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

preheat oven to 350

mix the first six ingredients together, blend well. add the rest the ingredients. mix well.

Pour into 2 loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour.

You may have to put some tinfoil over it for the last 15 minutes or so, as it gets quite dark.

Enjoy! Dorian

Jacqui! I know this one! Ew! Ew! Ew! Pick me! Pick me! She squeals as she squirms in her seat waving her hand wildly in the air.

You need to use cooked pumpkin and you will need at least twice as much raw pumpkin to start with as it reduces a fair amount as it cooks down. If your recipe calls for 2 C canned, start with 4-5 C raw.

If you have access to fresh pumpkins, pick one about the size of a soccer ball; it may be called a pie pumpkin- they are usually less stringy than the larger varieties. Cut the top around the stem and scoop out the seeds and the "guts"- that stringy stuff. SAVE THE SEEDS. Replace the top, cut a hole to let the steam out and place it on a baking disk such as a pie tin. Bake at 350 until you can pierce the skin with a fork. Let it cool and scoop out your cooked pumpkin. If you have more than you need, make some little tarts for Steve's lunches.

As for the seeds, wash them to remove the strings and let dry. Pour a little oil on a cookie sheet and spread the seeds in a single layer. Bake until they are lightly toasted, stir occassionally, watch them- they can burn quickly after that. Remove from heat and sprinkle with salt. A crunchy and nutritious snack.

Best Ever Pumpkin Pie
{I am sure that sweet tater could be substituted}

1 unbaked pie shell
2 beaten eggs
1C brown sugar
1 T flour
1/2t salt
2 1/2t pumpkin spice
2C cooked pumpkin
1 2/3C evaported milk
Mix ingredients well & pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake in a preheated oven for 50-60 minutes on 350 degrees.

GLAZE:
1T softened butter
1/4C brown sugar
3/4C chopped pecans {optional}
Sprinkle this mixture over pie the last 10 minutes of baking.

This is the only way that I like pumpkin pie. And yeah that scoop of whip topping makes for added yum!

BTW
C=cup
T=tablespoon
t=teaspoon

Jacqui
If you want to go for a SWEET treat with a sweet potato you have got to try this

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 Sweet potatoes cooked and mashed
3/4C butter
1/2C evaporated milk
1C brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2t nutmeg
1/2t cinnamon
1t vanilla

GLAZE:
12/c pecans
1/2c brown sugar
1/3c butter

Mix first group of ingredients together well& pour into a casserole dish. Sprinkle the glaze over the top of the potato mixture. Bake at 350 until golden brown.

OH OH I use the left over evap. milk to make my mashed taters, or for gravy, or in fudge ... anywhere I use milk, especially when I want a richer taste

Whether you like dates or not, this is a fantastic recipe!!! It works well with fresh dates or with dried dates.

Melt 6 Tbsp. Butter or margarine.
Stir in 1 1/2 c. brown sugar. Cool, then beat in 2 eggs.

Fold in 1 1/2 c flour & 1/2 tsp salt. Add 1 tsp vanilla and 1 c chopped dates (fresh is better but dried are easier to find around here).

Place in 9X9X2 greased pan.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Cut into squares and eat!!!!

Jacqui, you are NOT stupid. I am, for not saying COOKED pumpkin. LOL

What a cool childhood Deb! That is how I want to raise our kids. I enjoy listening to you go down memory lane. My dh loves pumpkin pie too. And since I've discovered 2% evaporated milk, and I use an oil crust...he can eat them!

Meg, if I have leftover evaporated milk....I use it in my morning coffee

For cooked pumpkin. I usually cut my pumpkins in half, and lay them inside down on a cookie sheet (after scooping out the 'gut's and seeds of course). Take out when soft. Then I scoop the insides out and put them in a blender with a little bit of water to puree them. THEN I measure 2 cups of the pureed stuff for my bread, or however much I need for pie. I freeze them in 2 cups servings, so I just have to take the bag out of the freezer and thaw when I want to make something.

Sorry for the confusion Jacqui.

Dorian

Dorian-

Here are the recipes as promised. Hope your family likes them as much as we do.

Thai Chicken Satay

In a large mixing bowl, combine:
2 T creamy peanut butter
½ C low-sodium soy sauce
½ C lemon or lime juice
1 T brown sugar
2 T curry powder
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 t hot pepper sauce
Set aside. Cut into cubes and place in marinade:
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Refrigerate in marinade for at least 2 hours; overnight is best. Preheat grill to high heat. Weave the chicken onto skewers, then grill for 5 minutes per side. Serve over rice. Makes 12 servings.
NOTE: Can also be done in broiler.
NOTE: When using bamboo skewers, thoroughly soak them first in water.
NOTE: Lean pork can be substituted, by cutting it into 1” cubes. Either meat can be prepared and used as a hot hors d’oeuvres or as a main dish.

East Indian Rice

Cook rice to have 4 C cooked rice. Set aside. Sauté:
½ C onion slices
¼ C slivered almonds
¼ C butter
Add:
½ C raisins
Cook until raisins are puffy. Mix lightly with rice. Add:
shredded coconut
Serve either hot or cold.

Cindy-

Your comment about looking for new traditions made me think how cultures can bump into one another and cause friction, especially at the holidays. I was going to relate a little story, but it was too long to put here so I bumped it over to my blog.

y'all here is a link to a taste of home recipe that my family LOVES:
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Turkey-Taco-Bake
i like to serve this with salad and corn, either off or on the cob . . .

the only thing i do differently is rather than the shredded cooked turkey and 1 t taco seasoning - i brown either ground beef or ground turkey and use a packet of taco seasoning mix - just like making the filling for tacos. i will probably try it using the shredded cooked turkey after thanksgiving this year tho.

and i add sliced black olives in the toppings too. i LOVE olives . . .

for the corn chips - it doesn't specify tortilla corn chips, so the first time i made this i had fritos on hand, so i crushed those. the next time, i crushed tortilla chips - it was good, but my family much preferred the fritos so i use those whenever i make this.

also i make my own "refried beans" by cooking the fool out of a bag of dry pinto beans in my crockpot, draining, mashing and freezing 2 c of mashed beans per freezer bag. greatly reduces the sodium content over the canned variety. and of course is fat-free since i don't add any lard or shortening - just mash & use or freeze.

RED SKELTON'S RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT MARRIAGE

1. Two times a week we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship She goes on Tuesdays; I go on Fridays.

2. We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California, and mine is in Texas.

3. I take my wife everywhere....but she keeps finding her way back.

4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. "Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said. So I suggested the kitchen.

5. We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.

6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said "There are too many gadgets, and no place to sit down!" So I bought her an electric chair.

7. My wife told me the car wasn't running well
because there was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car was.

She told me, "In the lake."


8. She got a mud pack, and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.

9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling, "Am I too late for the garbage?" The driver said, "No, jump in!"

10. Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.

11. I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her
first name was Always.

12. I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months I don't like to interrupt her.


13. The last fight was my fault though. My wife asked, "What's on the TV?" I said, "Dust!"

Can't you just hear him say all of these? I love it........these were the good old days when humor didn't have to start with a four letter word.

It was just clean and simple fun. And he always ended his programs with the words, "God Bless"