Butternut Cranberry Delight

Just had to share this yummy, easy fall recipe. I modified it from a mailer from my real estate agent (Sendsations Power Marketing - November 2013 calendar).

Ingredients:

1.5-2 lb. butternut squash, cubed
3 baking apples, peeled, cored & cubed
~2 cups fresh/frozen cranberries

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 T. Flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans

• Put squash in 9x13" microwave-safe pan (ungreased or use a little cooking spray). Microwave 8-10 minutes, or until squash is just slightly softened. 
• Meanwhile, mix topping ingredients in small bowl. (This is also a good time to prepare the apples, rinse cranberries and melt butter.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Stir apples and cranberries over squash, Sprinkle topping over, then drizzle butter and top with pecans. Bake about 30 minutes. 

(*Some random notes: The recipe originally calls for fewer cranberries, apples & squash. I increased slightly to use a 2# squash package - yea, Costco for having already cubed! I used most of a bag of cranberries. The original also called for baking the squash 30minutes before adding the remaining ingredients and toasting pecans on the stoptop, rather than tossing in the baking dish. I prefer the quicker, easier method...)

Mangia! (Eat!) . . . Cindy Lou Who

Honey Caramel Sauce

Perfect for fall apples!! I love this stuff... and it's SOOO easy!

1/2 c honey
1 stick butter
3/4 c brown sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk

In a medium sized saucepan, mix honey, butter and brown sugar together over medium high heat. Bring mixture to a rolling boil and boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add sweetened condensed milk and mix well. All done! Let cool at least a little (this is almost worth burning your tongue over). Eat with apple slices, pretzels, over ice cream, (or off the spoon... I may or may not have done that). :) Oh the possibilities! It would be great over sliced peaches with a little whipped cream... hmmm. I think I'll go try that right now. Happy fall everyone!

Super Snack Foods

It's almost game time! This week counts down to one of the biggest chowdowns of the year! Setting up for a great game with good food can make the game that much bigger. Are you ready?

Share Your Snack Foods 

Since February celebrates National Snack Food Month and Superbowl Sunday, I went ahead and experimented in some serious snacking business and want to share my ideas with everyone.

My snack food that I am sharing with you today is something that I threw together with left over chicken.

I took some Garlic and Herb Laughing Cow cheese (I bet Garlic and Herb cream cheese would be equally great) and mixed it with some chunks of chicken (I also throw in a few minced onions from time to time).

Then I thinly slice a sweet apple and place it on whole grain cracker. Yep, not much going on here.

I can't get enough of it and the combination creates the perfect creamy, salty, and sweet snack.

I also have used left over breaded chicken and that created even more flavor. Wow!

So to list those ingredients out:

Sweet Apples

Cooked Chicken (boiled, baked, grilled or fried)

Garlic and Herb Laughing Cow or regular cream cheese

Crackers

and minced onions (if desired)