Butternut Squash Gratin = Fall in a Bowl

Week one, Day one of Couch to 5K is behind me and I know tomorrow will bring sore muscles. The run felt like I was back in high school, forced to participate in whatever sport the gym teacher made us play. I ran in one minute increments, but after 20 minutes my lungs felt like I had run for an hour. I cursed at myself wondering why anyone would put themselves through this torture willingly. On my route I saw a bunch of neighborhood kids on the playground and one girl about eight years old started running alongside me to catch up to her friends. She ran with ease and excitement and I huffed and puffed, counting down the seconds until I could rest again. 

Yesterday marked the beginning of fall on the calendar but today it really felt like it. The air is crisp and cooler. I took advantage of the pleasant weather to make a new recipe from my favorite cookbook.

Butternut Squash Gratin with Onions and Sage. 

Forget baked macaroni and cheese, this is the ultimate comfort food without the heaviness and high caloric guilt. Since I don’t like to cut too many corners when I cook, I made fresh bread crumbs. It might sound like a lot of work, but it was really simple. The bread crumbs in the grocery store are full of high sodium levels and food additives so I usually steer clear of them.

Two pieces of oat bread broken up.

Then a few spins in the food processor.

I prepped everything, Mise en place.

Onions, fresh sage and thyme were sautéed in a pan of olive oil.

Butternut squash was dredged in flour and sifted to get rid of the excess.

They were then sautéed in a pan of olive oil until brown. The recipe called for 6 cups of butternut squash, which was too much for the pan. I wanted to keep the temperature at a constant temperature so I sautéed the squash in batches. If you overcrowd the pan it will lower the temperature making it harder to cook evenly. This same rule applies to any food you sauté in a pan.

 

Fresh parsley, salt, and pepper was added for another layer of flavor.

Then I added the butternut squash on top of the onion mixture in the gratin dish.

Gruyere cheese, freshly grated topped the squash and then about a ½ cup of the homemade veggie broth from yesterday for moisture during the baking process. 

It baked for 25 minutes then I took it out to add the fresh bread crumbs.

Another 10 to 12 minutes later, the gratin came out of the oven, the smell of freshly baked butternut squash and cheese wafted throughout my house. 

It was the perfect dish for a cold, fall night. Since I used veggie broth instead of cream and only a cup of gruyere cheese the meal felt light and satisfying. 

Off to enjoy the rest of my Sunday. I can tell the football game has begun because my upstairs neighbor is yelling at the Patriots through his T.V. screen. Wonder what he hears coming from below. 

Sarah Jenkins

You Just Gotta Keep on Livin', Man. L-I-V-I-N

Clearly this is not going to be a daily blog and I say this for two reasons. One, I feel lazy most weekdays. I come home from work and either crash on the couch from exhaustion or boredom from pushing papers around all day. And two, I just don’t think my daily life is all that interesting.

Let’s face it the reality is that we spend most of our day doing monotonous tasks over and over again. We look for those moments that break up the day or jolt us back to life. I’m not one to create drama or fictionalize my life. So with that said, I’m going to call this a “once-in-a-while when I have something to say or when I cook something amazing in my kitchen” blog. 

Yesterday I cheated on my vegetarian diet and ate some amazing, spicy chicken dip a friend from work made. It looked too good to pass up and I had already cheated before with scallops, so I went for it. This is hard to admit, but it hit the spot, especially paired with salty Tostito chips. The chicken was slowly cooked in a crockpot and the shredded pieces were melt in your mouth tender. 

So, I figure I will stick with my vegetarian diet and cheat occasionally when I come across a dish of seafood or chicken that catches my eye. I’m a foodie so it will have to be prepared by someone who really cares about what they’re cooking. There’s nothing worse than a dry piece of meat or an overcooked scallop drowning in a sauce that’s trying to cover up the fact that the chef did not take the time to cook it properly. 

By dinner time Friday night I wanted to go back to my vegetarian ways so I didn’t confuse my stomach, so I ordered one large margarita and a vegetarian entrée with my friend D at my favorite Mexican watering hole. I sprang for the side of refried beans and Mexican rice. Between the tomatillo sauce and the large margarita, the Mexican music playing over the loudspeaker started to jolt me back to life. D and I showed off our Mexican dancing moves despite the crowded room of strangers. 

After a very late night of Mexican fare and a late night showing of Dazed and Confused, I crashed in my bed and slept until noon. 

Saturdays are always slow going. Katie (my sister) and I started our Saturday food trip around 4pm. We hit up a few grocery stores, Market Basket for the cheaper items and Whole Foods for the more expensive food items we cannot live without. By the time we returned home it was 8:30pm, so I quickly set to work on dinner. 

I’ve said it before but today it was really true. I am spoiled by new cookbook. Tonight I planned to make one of Katie’s favorites, Greens and Beans Soup. The recipe calls for 5 to 6 cups of vegetable broth and I used to do the bouillon cube dissolved in boiled water method. Since learning how to make a homemade veggie broth, I couldn’t use the substitute. It took an extra hour and a half, finally eating at 11pm but it really elevated the dish. 

When I read Marcus Samuelsson’s memoir I learned how important it was to build the flavor in every step of a dish. To cook an amazing meal you have to know how to prepare each ingredient, no matter how insignificant you might think it is to the recipe. The memoir, like the man himself, had taught me to care about food again. The dish in front of me wasn’t just a mélange of ingredients in a bowl, but an opportunity to build flavor and enhance the dish, to bring it to the next level.

I started with extracting the flavor profiles from a bunch of vegetables and herbs and sifted them out of the velvety liquid. 

With the veggie broth squared away, I got going on the soup by sweating the onions and garlic in olive oil. I love the smell of them slowly cooking, it makes your mouth water.

Next I added the greens and beans. For the greens part I used Kale and Spinach and for the beans, red kidney and cannellini beans. Growing up my mum didn’t use Kale in her cooking. Her meals were efficient and economical. With three kids, a husband, and a full schedule at college, dinner was another task on a very long list of things to do. It wasn’t until I started devouring cookbooks as a hobby that I came across this interesting, hearty green. 

I poured in the veggie broth and added marjoram to bring out the flavor of the vegetables and red pepper flakes for that little hint of spice. 

After it came to a boil, I let it simmer for a while, allowing the greens and beans to slowly become tender. The result was better than the original recipe. 

The velvety texture of the veggie broth, the hint of spice that hits the back of your throat, warms you from the inside out. Those greens and beans are filling so you’re not looking for a heavy dinner roll to leave your stomach satisfied. That garlicky onion flavor can be tasted throughout the spoonful and makes your mouth water for more.

Tomorrow I start the Couch to 5K program, but I learned of another obstacle in my way to running three miles, triple E. As if I needed another reason to hate mosquitoes, my town is swarming with those disease infested gnats until the first frost. I’m thinking of throwing caution to the wind, dousing myself with mosquito repellant, turning up the volume on my ipod workout mix, and setting sneakers to pavement anyway. 

At least the adrenaline will be the rush I need to jump start my day and break up the monotony of paperwork. 

Sarah Jenkins

Out of the Darkness and into the Light

Last week I struggled with feeling apathetic and procrastinated from writing. The week began productive and I started a project that did not end well. It made me feel deflated by the end of the week I tried to think of how I could get out of my rut. By Thursday morning I realized I had three days to finish my walking prep for the week, so I got up at 4:30am and walked for 30 minutes. It was still really dark out. As I walked by the other apartment buildings in the complex, I could hear someone’s alarm clock going off, lights were turning on, someone else’s day had begun this early too. The air was cool and brisk. It was a peaceful time to be out walking.

Taken with my cellphone camera, it really was this dark!

Since the week was a struggle I opted for more comforting meals to keep my spirits up.

Saturday morning I woke up later than I wanted to because I knew it would be a busy day. My mum called while I was eating breakfast, eyes half open, my mind a complete blank. When I answered the phone her voice was more chipper than usual. She was beyond excited because today her youngest child returned to the States. Since my Brazilian coffee was still brewing, I could not match her level of chipper-ness. Instead, I grumbled a few sentences and yawned threw the rest. My mum’s excitement was a wakeup call. I had six hours to go grocery shopping, clean the apartment, and make roasted red pepper dip all before 6pm when I would be leaving to pick Katie up at the airport. 

I forced myself off the couch and wrote up a quick list. It was a struggle to stay on task in Whole Foods. Usually I love to wander around and take my time, looking at all the new local produce. Apples were on display in paper bags and stacked up in pyramids of red and green. I was mesmerized. By the time I got home, I had 2 hours left to clean and prep for guests. I was a crazy, mad woman rushing around. I drove the cats nuts! I ran from one end of the apartment and back again, dirty clothes and torn magazines were thrown about. I vacuumed the carpet of cat hair until the bag was ready to burst. I cleaned while the red peppers roasted in the oven, then I finished putting it together. 

At about 15 minutes to my leave time I got a message from my mum that Katie’s flight had been delayed and I had an extra hour. I was beyond excited about this news. Holding the phone while reading that text message I took a moment to take in myself and my surroundings. My hair was sticking up all over the place, I wreaked a sweaty pungent smell, and the cats were running in the opposite direction of me. I realized how mixed my emotions were at that moment. I was stressed about all the details of the apartment and food because I wanted them to be perfect. I was feeling sad because my sister, my roommate, my best friend was coming home. It didn't matter how clean the apartment was or how perfect the dip came out. Katie was home and I would be able to see her. So I took a deep breath, put my head down, and finished getting ready.

When I got to my dad’s house I was a lot calmer. I only waited 10 minutes and then I got the “I’ve landed” text. So we jumped in my Hyundai and trekked our way down route 1. Pulling up to the arrivals section of Logan airport I saw her. Katie had the biggest smile on her face, luggage stacked up all around her, and her hand waving in the air. I could not contain my excitement. I quickly pulled over to the side of the curb and jumped out. I practically barreled into her, arms in a tight hug and squealed with delight! She was finally home. 

The car ride back to my dad’s house was filled with excited chatter. She had so much to say and we had so many questions. We hugged our dad goodnight and he headed inside to rest for the evening. My Hyundai engine sprang back to life and we zoomed down the street toward the highway. It had been four weeks and we finally had a moment to have a sister chat. We caught each other up on the things only close sisters confide in. 

When I unlocked the door to the apartment Katie’s cat came running down the hallway. Her paws had a little extra spring in their step. The rest of the evening was spent prepping appetizers and making dinner for Katie and I. I had spent the day doing so many chores that I forgot to eat lunch, let alone dinner until 9pm. When my guests arrived soon after Katie and I got home, it all became a flurry of cooking, talking, and eating. I forgot to take pictures of the spread I put out. The appetizers were pretty basic but hit the spot. I put out flaxseed, wheat crackers and cheese, pita crisps and roasted red pepper dip, organic red grapes, and a chocolate, raisin, and nut mix from Whole Foods. My mum brought over homemade chocolate chip cookies from the local farm store. They looked so good I could not turn it down.

I finally get to see Katie on this side of the computer screen!

We ended the night with Chinese tea and looking at some of Katie’s trip pictures. By the time the last guest left, it was 1:30am. I was exhausted, so after the kitchen cleanup I headed to bed. 

Sunday morning was made for sleeping in and I did just that. Katie and I relaxed with breakfast on the couch and talked about our plans for the day. She headed off to see her boyfriend and I grabbed my purse to run a few errands. I was only going to pick up a few household items but I drove by Olympia Sports feeling the urge to go in. 

The store was empty except two young ladies in red Olympia Sports shirts. They greeted me and cheerfully told me to alert them if I needed help. I realized I was the only customer in the store and it could be for only one reason, the Patriots game was on. I looked at all the colorful sneakers on display. Lately I have noticed a lot of the runners in my neighborhood sporting sneakers with very bright colors and here they were, shining brightly back at me. Since I wasn’t sure which one would really be good for my tired, old feet I asked the cheerful ladies for help. I ended up picking a really nice pair of Saucony sneakers in bright neon colors for those early morning walks (soon to be runs).

I saw that they were selling the Nathan sports bottles with the handy cover for storing your cell phone and keys. I had been eyeing them on Amazon and decided to just buy one from the nice sales lady.

I was so excited I went for a walk when I got home. I felt exhausted but exhilarated. The sneakers were fantastic! They are lightweight, breath cool air into the top of my feet, and support my tired arches. I'm excited for my next walk! 

In my cool down stretching, I realized how easily some of the movements were feeling. I used to struggle to lift my legs up in certain stretches and now they lift so easily.

Nala joined me when I did the stretches on the floor

I have high hopes for this week, not only for the couch to 5K work out prep, but also for the blog. I would like to write daily so you have something to look forward to. I read other blog sites every day before I get ready for bed. I like to check in and see what's been submitted. It’s like opening up a book and reading a few pages before you turn the lights out. The words soothe and relax you. Suddenly you’re transported as if you’re sitting next to the writer, experiencing the words on the page. Of course these words are being written at 1am so I can imagine you must be feeling as exhausted as I am. Since Monday is coming much sooner than I would like, I will end here and pick up again tomorrow. 

My stepbrother’s birthday celebration is tomorrow night, so it will be a long day before I’m back on this page. Mondays usually make me feel sluggish, so I hope yours is a lot better!

Sarah Jenkins