Rosemary Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Happy (almost) Halloween!

This morning I was up early to head to the A2 Farmers Market to volunteer for a project for an Environment class I am in. Our project objective was to get involved in the community on an issue pertaining to the environment. I always enjoy being a patron of the Farmers Market but it was fun to play a role in the Market's production today. We helped out with the Halloween activities at the Market including carving pumpkins, and face painting. Amidst all of that we met a lot of really great people including a 14-year-old boy who gladly answered my pesky questions about his families chickens:

Me: "So, how many chickens do you guys have?"

Boy: "Uh, dead or alive?"

Me: "Hmm. . .Both?"

Boy: "Around 2,000." (He then went on to tell about how they are free-range and hormone free! Woo Hoo!)

One of the conversation over the carving of pumpkins was the deliciousness of pumpkin seeds. I've actually never had pumpkin seeds (at least that I can remember) so I decided to give it a try and we all began separating them out here and there so everyone could take some home.

I loosely used this recipe from SimpleRecipes.com - quick and easy!

First, bring the seeds to a boil in a pot of water w/ a little salt and then simmer for about 10 minutes.

Next, place them on an oiled cookie sheet. At this point I added salt, pepper and rosemary - but you can season them however you like. The seeds then go in the oven at 400 degrees for 10-20 minutes.

Voila!

Enjoy your Halloweekend!

Houston

It's been almost two weeks since I flew down to Houston to visit my sister Meredith, brother-in-law David, adorable nephew Xavy, and BFF Caroline. I had a wonderful visit and it was nice to take a quick break from school before things got too crazy (and believe me, they did).

Friday night Caroline picked me up from the Airport. It was about 11:00 PM Mitten time, but somehow I caught a second wind and Caroline and I stayed up chatting per usual over Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes.

Saturday morning we visited the Farmers Market near Caroline's apartment and then went in search of Kolaches. Kolaches are a delicious European pastry popular in many cities across the U.S. including Houston where their annual Kolache Fests occur in March and May.

Next up was Central Market (H-E-B's version of Whole Foods?).

Our purpose in being there was obviously for their annual Hail to the Cheese event. We tried several great cheeses but our favorite was the Vermont Cheddar atop a rice cracker with Pumpkin Butter. OH-MY-CHEESE! What an amazing combination - which I now have all the ingredients to replicate. . .

Following the cheese, coffee, salsa, and fruit samples we shopped around for a bit and then headed out to my sister Meredith's house - where lots of fun, munching, baby kisses and snuggles, and shenanigans took place including. . .

My first cup o' pure espresso.

A quick day trip to Katy, TX for the 1/3 Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit.

Turtle Soup. Not really, just a plethora of turtles in Katy, TX.

Mediterranean Dinner Night with help from Phoenicia.

And more snuggling!

Acorn Squash & Apple Soup

Last week while reading all of my usual blogs in my Google Reader, I stumbled upon this recipe on the blog "Peas and Thank You." Knowing that I am in the Mitten, and it is prime time for apples and squash I made tentative plans to make some sort of apple-squash soup this week. Upon further review of my farmers market purchases I decided to make this soup, found on the blog "Happy Herbivore."

I made a few modifications to the original recipe, the first being that I roasted my squash in the oven on 400 degrees for about 40 minutes instead of putting the squash in the microwave.

My next modification (which may have been where I went wrong) was trying to make a one-and-a-half version of the recipe. I had more squash than the recipe called for but I knew I would use the squash otherwise.

The Verdict: I found the soup slightly sweet, yet lacking in a robust flavor. The original recipe did note that the soup is even better the next day which I would have to agree with. :D

This is not my last attempt with squash soup; I have had some pretty outstanding squash soup so I know it can be done. Next time I think I will try to make a recipe similar to the recipe on "Peas and Thank You" to pack a little protein in.

What are you making this week?

A few of my favorite fall things. . .

It is a lovely October morning here in the mitten. After a quick, early trip to the Farmer's Market this morning I was reminded of a few of my favorite fall things:

-Pumpkin ANYTHING (Specifically, a Zingerman's Pumpkin Muffin)

-Apples

-Apple Cider

-Squash

-Coffee (on a Fall Morning)

-FALL COLORS

What are your favorite fall things?

P.S. Sorry for the blogging hiatus. You haven't missed much. I burned my hand making a frozen pizza. . .see, I told you so.

P.P.S. GO BLUE!

Sister, Sister

A few photos from Molly's visit this weekend. . .

(School) Fun in the Sun

It is such a gorgeous day today! Its breezy, warm, and fabulous.

After classes this morning I went back to my apartment to send a few e-mails and decided that it was far to nice to be inside. I packed up my backpack, hopped on my bike and headed down to the Food Co-op for some Pad Thai that was on today's hot bar menu. The Pad Thai was great and it had probably the best tofu that I have had to date in it (that is not saying much, I have only had it a handful of times). Then I jumped back on my bike and headed back to campus to sit outside for a while, which is where this post is coming to you from.

I have to head to class but I'll be back again soon with more munchings.

Weekend Recap

Friday I finished up my second week of school. Time flies when your having fun? :/ I packed a lot in on Friday - a pre-class workout, class, phone banking for a student organization I joined, a clean-out-the-fridge lunch, a little work, and a brief hike to the bus station to go home!

Let's start with Fridays lunch. Spinach salad with the last of the sun sprouts, last of the tomatoes, a peach, balsamic vinegar, EVOO, and s+p. And to the right a turkey (last of the turkey), hummus, and sun sprout sandwich - delicious!

Next up was the bus. This was my first experience riding the Greyhound, and it was memorable. Most notably because of the intoxicated man who hopped on the bus during our first stop shouting "Hola! Como estas?" while blinking and squinting his right eye. . .

I have to be honest, I was slightly relieved to be off the bus at that point but I am sure I will do it again. I had a great (too short) weekend at home! It was so wonderful to see my Mom, Dad and sisters. I also saw quite a bit of my extended family when we celebrated my Grandpa's 82nd Birthday on Saturday night - it is a rare but special occasion when everyone is able to get together. AND then I saw my other Grandpa and Grandma this afternoon before I left to come back to school! I am so lucky to be surrounded by such a wonderful family.

I tried to carry the excitement and enthusiasm of the weekend back with me to school (in hopes that it would fuel the homework that needs to be done ASAP). However when that fails we must turn to lattes with our names spelled wrong on the side for fuel.

Have a great week!