The Stay at Home Mother

Ok - I came across some amazing recipes the other day. And witih the US Thanksgiving just around the corner - I thought I would share them with readers. Although for Canadians, Thanksgiving is long past, we can still use these winter dishes to warm our tummies.

I also am trying very hard to lose some weight so although these dishes aren't very "weight conscious", I will be posting some in the coming week to help with those of us trying to lose the weight before Christmas. However, for now, let's just indulge ourselves a bit....

Roasted Squash With Prosciutto

2 ml ( 1/2 tsp) cinnamon

1 ml ( 1/4 tsp) nutmeg

2 ml ( 1/2 tsp) smoked paprika

150 ml (2/3 cup) maple syrup

1 butternut squash (about 2 kg/4 lb), peeled, seeded and cut to a 1-cm ( 1/2-inch) dice (about 2.25 l/9 cups cut)

250 g (8 oz) prosciutto, cut or torn into small pieces

Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Heat oven to 200 C (400 F). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, whisk together cinnamon, nutmeg, smoked paprika and maple syrup.

In a large bowl, place squash, then drizzle maple syrup mixture over it. Use a large spoon to toss squash to coat evenly. Add prosciutto and toss to distribute. Transfer squash to prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until squash is lightly browned at the edges. Season with salt and pepper.

Also, the leftovers can be turned into a soup. Combine the leftovers with a litre or two of chicken broth, some chopped carrots and potatoes and some leftover chicken or turkey (if celebrating Thanksgiving).

Ok - and this one is good for Brussel Sprouts. Although I seem to be the only one who is a fan of Brussel Sprouts - everyone in my family needs to have some sort of sauce overtop of them. So here is a good one to appease those who are a bit picky about them.

Sensational Brussel Sprouts

4 c. (2 lbs.) fresh brussel sprouts
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 c. milk
1 c. sour cream
1 tbsp. parsley

Wash, trim and cook sprouts until tender. Saute onion in butter until clear but not brown. Stir in flour, sugar, salt and mustard. Add milk and cook slowly until thickened. Blend in sour cream. Add sprouts and heat through. Sprinkle with parsley before serving. Serves 6.

Marvelous Macaroni and Cheese (not exactly a Thanksgiving dish - but a really good one for serving up to the troops on a cold evening)

2 c. (8 ounces) elbow macaroni
1 stick butter
1/4 cup minced onions
3 tbsp. flour
2 c. of milk or light cream
1/2 c. dry white wine (or water)
2 c. grated sharp cheddar (1/2 pound)
1/2 cup bread crumbs (topping)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Cayenne to taste 1/2 tsp. paprika

Bring 4 qt. salted water to a rapid boil and cook the macaroni until not quite tender. Drain macaroni and set aside.

In saute pan, melt 1/2 the stick of butter (or 4 tablespoons). When melted, stir in the breadcrumbs and toast just until lightly browned. Remove breadcrumbs from pan and set aside. Wipe pan clean with paper towel and re-use for next step. Breadcrumb topping: Melt remaining butter, add onions, and stir over low heat until onions are just translucent, but not browned. Stir in the flour and seasonings. Continue to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Add the wine, then gradually stir in the milk or cream.

Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened and smooth. Add cheese and continue stirring until the cheese melts.

Combine the macaroni with the cheese sauce. Turn out into a generously buttered casserole dish (approximately 1 1/2 quarts). If you have any extra grated cheese, you can sprinkle this on top along with the 1/2 cup of buttered, toasted bread crumbs.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for approximately 20 minutes or until heated all the way through and golden brown on top.

Enjoy!

And if you have some recipes of your own - send them my way, and I will post them as well. Anything that saves moms time, goes far or makes homemade meals easier - I am all ears! :)