Quick Share: Summer Squash Couscous with Sultanas, Pistachios and Mint

Five stars to this amazing dish, again from Food52.com.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="694" caption="Summer Squash Couscous with Sultanas, Pistachios and Mint"][/caption]

I used Israeli couscous because we like that better. I didn't chop the zucchini or yellow squash as finely as suggested. Mine were closer to inch and half inch chunks. I also used minced garlic in the dressing, forgetting that you're supposed to discard the garlic before serving. As I'm fairly sensitive to raw garlic, this should be interesting!

Without question, one of our favorites. This is in two week rotation although I'm pretty sure we had it last week, too. I think I used butternut squash last week instead of yellow squash. Slightly hardier, a little taste of fall mixed in. Yum!

Buffalo Mozzarella, Balsamic Glazed Plums, Pine Nuts & Mint

Another amazing, fabulous, winner of a recipe from Food52.com.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="694" caption="Buffalo Mozzarella with Balsamic Glazed Plums, Pine Nuts and Mint "][/caption]
I made a version of this appetizer to take to my friend's dinner party last night. It wasn't really a party, just two couples and three kids, but it always feels like a party when we see them. How can you beat good company, happy kids and free flowing wine?

I didn't have pine nuts so I used pistachios. We didn't have buffalo mozzarella so I used fresh. Then I didn't use a well sealed bowl to carry it in the car so I wore the smell of balsamic vinegar all evening. I would suggest avoiding that.

This was a smash success. Super easy, too. I'm thinking about putting the whole thing over pasta as a main course. Think?

I Have to Share: ZipList.com

Do you ZipClip? It's a function of ZipList.com and it's awesome. ZipList is an online recipe clipping service that puts all the ingredients into a database so when you're menu planning, you just click on the various recipes in your recipe box and a shopping list is automatically generated. Did I mention it's free?
[caption id="attachment_305" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Recipe Screen Shot from Ziplist.com"][/caption]

ZipClip is a little button you put on your menu bar. Whenever you come across a recipe you love, click the button and viola, ZipClick sucks up the ingredients list, photo and URL into your own private database.
[caption id="attachment_308" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="ZipClip Screen Shot"][/caption]

I'm not saying it couldn't be better - the software needs work. But even as is, ZipList has revolutionized menu planning and grocery shopping in the Fitch home. If anyone knows of a better online recipe clipping service, let me know!

Farro with Roasted Butternut Squash

Do you know about 101CookBooks.com? Heidi writes and photographs beautifully - she's got a great eye and great taste. All the recipes I've tried have been delicious . I definitely can't say that about Martha Stewart.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="654" caption="Farro with Roasted Butternut Squash"][/caption]

Last night we had Farro and Roasted Butternut Squash. The balsamic vinegar and fresh thyme mixed beautifully with the roasted squash and onions. One thought, though. The recipe did not call for soaking the farro so I didn't. It tasted lovely but I thought the consistency wasn't quite right. Next time I'll give it a soak for twenty minutes and see if that helps.

First Dance Class, First Comments

[caption id="attachment_210" align="alignnone" width="556" caption="Ballet Class"][/caption]My daughter had her first dance class of the season today - new tap AND ballet shoe purchases necessary. I'm not complaining, I love to shop. Even better, Target doesn't carry tap shoes so I got to branch out and hit up a real shoe store (!!) Did I mention a brand new Target just opened TWO BLOCKS AWAY? Three aisles of dollar bins. I KNOW!

So the good news is that it's a drop off class, her first ever. The BAD news is that it's a drop off class - MY first ever. I only got to take one stinking photo before we got kicked out. I did have the grace to hug and thank the teacher for her sacrifice but as the door closed I felt... bereft? Deflated? Where are the tears, child? Where's the "I WANT MY MOMMY!"?

Nothing but giggles and joyous screeches in that room with no windows to the hall where we moms sat, chatting and wondering what we were supposed to do for an hour alone in a hallway without windows...

In other news, came to home to find ...Wow! I posted the Halloween Peasant Top to a few link parties and got loads of visitors. If you're coming back, please stop by the comment section and join Bella and Toni in saying hello! I can't tell you how exciting it is to get an email telling me there's a comment in my queue. In the meantime, I'm working on a new Halloween skirt. Tonight, maybe, after our evening art class and dinner. It's hard to imagine cooking right now. It's 85 degrees out at 5 pm and I'm still STUFFING myself on left overs from the Spiced Bulgar, Chickpea and Squash Salad I made two days ago. Seriously, try it.

The Halloween Peasant Top and Spiced Bulgar, Chickpea and Squash Salad

Today is the first day of fall classes with my three year old, otherwise known (at least for this day) as the demon. We've got art, tap / ballet, gymnastics, children't theater and "Adventures in Storytelling" which I think is another theater class. Coco is a very social child but I didn't want to send her to preschool yet so we're taking lots of classes together. Art is tough because I want to play, too! I have to sit on my hands a lot. Today we played with air drying clay and it was just impossible not to dig in but the demon wasn't having it. She took great joy in destroying everything I touched. Makes a mommy rrreally look forward to quiet time!

So I've decided that mid September is not too early to get our Halloween crafting and decorating on. Am I wrong? Never mind that I made Coco's Halloween peasant top back in August(!!) This is the first time she wore it.


Can you see the little ghosts and gravestones? The sleeves are spiderwebs! I have a ton left of both and I don't know what to do with it. I'm thinking skirts for my "someday" Etsy shop...

This isn't the first peasant top, I've made. I can't help myself, these are so much fun! I just picked up some corduroy I want to try next.

[caption id="attachment_188" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Patty Young for Michael Miller"][/caption]

I've only ever worked with light cotton so it should be interesting. I'll gladly take any tips!

Finally, gotta post about dinner last night. This is from a BBC cooking mag called Good Food.

[caption id="attachment_189" align="alignnone" width="440" caption="Spiced bulghar, chickpea & squash salad"][/caption]

This tasted just like Fall. For the Americans, instead of Harissa paste, you can you Siracha sauce (the red Asian sauce with the rooster on it!) Also, 140 grams of bulgar wheat equals a cup and I used two cups of hot broth. I added lemon zest to the yogurt. Any Greek style yogurt will work. I didn't have any spinach handy so I skipped it. This really was beyond easy!

Dinner tonight

Roasted beet salad with barley and feta from thekitchn.com.  This is one of our regular favorites.  If you're not already reading Apartmenttherapy.com and Thekitchn.com, get over there quick!  Click on the photo for the recipe.