Dear God And An In Season Strawberry Dessert

Dear TBHITW (Jim),

If I could sit across the porch from God, I'd thank Him for lending me you.

Love, me.

Strawberries are in season right now here in the Northeast. What could be more wonderful? I spent today, a glorious day filled with light and azure skies, picking strawberries with my grand littles.

I give you a  refreshing, light, and oh so good dessert; perfect for entertaining or transporting to a neighborhood BBQ.

Strawberries with sweetened cream: serves a crowd

24 fresh strawberries
One eight ounce package of lite cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, finely chopped (optional)

Wash and dry the berries. Slice the stem end off the strawberries so that they can sit upright. Then, make an X in the pointed end of each berry. Set aside.

Using a hand mixer, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until combined.

Scoop the cheese mixture into a piping bag. Pipe the cheese into the center of each cross cut strawberry; filling all the way to the top. Finish with a flourish. Sprinkle the tops with a bit of finely chopped nuts. Serve Chilled.

As always, Bon Appetite.

Shelburne Falls and Roasted Butternut Squash

So.

I went to Massachusetts this weekend. Shelburne Falls and Ashfield to be exact.

Never heard of either one? That's because they are both tiny, tiny villages at the foot of the Berkshires. When I tell you they are unspoiled blasts from the past - that is exactly what they are. Handsome villages suspended in time with noble New Englanders living the simple life. Shelbourne Falls population: 2,000 nice people and a couple of grumps. The Ashfield sign said "densely settled".

Shelburne Falls' main street (which is Bridge Street) is 4 blocks long. It has 4 claims to fame. I think it has many, many more... but first:

The Flower Bridge

Glacial Potholes (the largest in the world - The Best Husband In The World was happy!)

Candlepin Bowling (I'll get to that)

Lamson and Goodnow, a Cutlery Outlet and kitchen store (be still my pounding heart)

This is one of the views driving into the village of Shelburne Falls:

Here is the flower bridge, it is an old trolley line that is no longer used for trolleys. Volunteer town folk have kept it planted since 1929 and everyone uses it to get from Shelburne Falls to Buckland (population just under 2,000 but who's counting), just over the bridge. I loved walking over this bridge and did it everyday of our stay.

Here is the view of the flower bridge from the "car bridge":

You have to drive over the car bridge or walk over the flower bridge to get to Lamson and Goodnow - the kitchen store.

I would have crawled:

Seriously.

The Best Husband In The World (a Professional Geologist by day) would have crawled to see the world's largest Glacial Potholes. The holes are formed over the years when a pebble gets caught on the rock - then the water washes over it, spinning it like a drill. Some of the holes still have the rock pebble in there. Interesting. Doesn't this picture look like a spooky face? Eyes, nose, round mouth with teeth?

Doesn't this picture look like a happy scientist face? The smile is caused by looking at geologic wonders.

Anyway, here is your recipe for the day. All the beautiful squashes are now in the markets. This is one of my family's favorite side dishes. Even my fussy eaters go for seconds. It is actually hardy enough to serve as a main vegetarian meal.

Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries, Walnuts and Spinach:

One butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into 1 inch cubes

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup walnuts

2 cups fresh spinach

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place the butternut squash cubes in a heavy, oven proof casserole (with a lid if you have one, if not, you will use aluminum foil).

Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Add the butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Put a lid on the casserole and place in the center of the oven. Roast for 30 minutes. Uncover and stir. Toss the walnuts and cranberries in with the squash and stir to mix around. Put back in oven and roast for another 20-30 minutes until nicely browned and soft. Stir once or twice while checking for doneness.

Remove from oven and toss in spinach leaves. Cover for 5 minutes to wilt the spinach.

Serve.

A Cook's Notes: This is a great side to roasted chicken, turkey or pork.

Tomorrow: The Cheese Queen and Candlepin bowling (you don't want to miss that...)

Um... What Do You Think, How About Some Brownies

I am at home in my kitchen. I am not leaving for Pennsylvania today as originally planned. 

Why you ask? Okay, hold on to your (whatever you hold on to):

The Doctor is sick. 

That's right folks. The surgeon who is supposed to perform my dad's surgery is sick. 

And what you ask is wrong with him? 

Well, here are the facts:

He has a virus.

He is not allowed back in the operating room until next Thursday. 

Now, what do you think he has? I have my suspicions all fueled by massive media coverage over the last 2 weeks. 

I already told you about my inappropriate laughing and I've got to tell you, if he has what I think he has (the DR that is...) well, then yesterday's post recipe was absolutely spot on and I find that very funny, although I do feel really bad for my dad - you know how it is, you get yourself all ready for the day.... (he is rescheduled for next Thursday)

What do you think? As for me, I'm making brownies:

The Best and Easiest Brownies in New Jersey (I do stop short of saying the world because I am humble)

Preheat oven to 350 F. 

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate

6 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Butter a 9 inch pan. 

Melt chocolate and butter in a bowl or pot over simmering water. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, salt, flour, vanilla and optional nuts. 

Pour into a prepared pan and bake 35 minutes. Now listen up - DO NOT OVERBAKE. Brownies are done when a toothpick inserted 1 inch from the side is ALMOST clean. Cool on a rack and cut into 1 x 1 inch pieces (like who ever does that??)

A Cook's Notes: These are chewy, fudgy brownies meant to take the edge off of life. They are dangerously good - so only make when you are extremely stressed out and there is just no other solution to your problem. Or, you know, you just have to have some chocolate.