Butternut Squash and Sage Soup

On a cold wintery day, in addition to cozying up to a book, I also love a good bowl of soup. Several years ago when I was still residing in Sacramento, a friend planted the idea that I could actually make my own soup at home. At that point in my life, I wasn’t aware that making my own soup was an alternative to soup from a can. Since that moment, I've experimented with different soup recipes (although not as often as I experiement with dessert recipes) and have found several that are to my liking, including a recipe for butternut squash and sage soup (I came across the recipe in Oprah's magazine).

The butternut squash and sage soup has a golden color and is so creamy. I can't believe that the recipe is so simple, yet so delicious. I know this is obvious, but once I've made this soup, or any homemade soup, it's hard to go back to canned soup. Anyhow, the following is the recipe for butternut squash and sage soup. If you don't have an immersion blender, as the recipe suggests, you can puree the soup in a blender or food processor in small batches. If you puree the soup while it is hot, make sure there is some kind of air hole, or else puree the soup when it's cold. I also skip the fried sage leaves, which are to be used as garnishment. The soup is superb, even without the garnishment. Happy soup making!

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
2 butternut squashes, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage, plus 8 to 18 leaves for garnish
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Vegetable oil, for frying

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Add squash; cook 5 more minutes. Add chopped sage and broth; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until squash is very tender, about 30 minutes. With an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth (or puree in small batches in a food processor fitted with knife blade). Season to taste with salt and pepper.

In a small pan, heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil until hot. Drop sage leaves in about 3 at a time and fry until just crisp; remove to a paper-towel-lined plate. Serve soup hot, garnished with 2 or 3 sage leaves per bowl.

Serves 4-6.

Public Libraries Rock

I love public libraries. A friend once told me that whenever she had a hankering to go shopping and frivolously spend money, she would just go to the library. By the time she leaves the library, she no longer wants to spend any of her money and she gets to take home all the books she wants, without paying a cent. I’ve since taken her advice to heart and have been finding myself at the library more often than in previous years.

The other great thing about public libraries is that it saves me from having to purchase books (which can be an expensive habit). I do have my little own library and I do buy books, but the books I purchase often are used from the internet or thrift stores, plus I would not be offended if someone gave me a used book as a gift. Only on a few occasion have I purchased a book from a bookstore at its full price. Anyhow, I also find that once I’ve finished reading the book, it just stays on my shelf. That’s another reason why libraries are so great – I can return the borrowed book (save my shelf space) and check out another.

Books of 2007

I love reading (although my siblings will claim that my love for reading stem from the possibility of using it as a means to escape chores). The winter makes it so ideal to cozy up with a nice book beside a warm heater (sorry, but I don’t have a fireplace). Since finishing all of my graduate schooling, I’ve had A LOT more time to read for pleasure and have been devouring books like crazy. Sometimes I’ll get into a certain mood (e.g. classics only, or nonfiction, or fiction) and sometimes I’ll just pick up a book based on a friend’s recommendation. About a month ago I started making a list of all the books I’ve read so far this year. Of course, the length of the list depends on my memory (and my memory is somewhat bad), but I’m only keeping track so that I may meet my goal of reading at least twelve books per year. It’s also cool to find lists of “must read” books and check to see if I’ve read any of the listed books.

Anyhow, the following is a list of the books I remember reading this year:

1. Pride and Prejudice—Jane Austin
2. Out in the Garden—Dean Riddle
3. My Garden—Jamaica Kincaid
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows—J.K. Rowling
5. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse—Louise Erdrich
6. Fall on Your Knees—Ann Marie MacDonald
7. Finding Midas—Russell Cleveland
8. The Money Book for the YF&B—Suze Orman
9. The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom—Suze Orman
10. For One More Day—Mitch Albom
11. The Five People You Meet in Heaven—Mitch Albom
12. Otherwise Normal People—Aurelia C. Scott
13. The Eyre Affair—Jasper Fforde

14. The Flanders Panel—Arturo Perez-Reverte

15. Diary of a Wimpy Kid—Greg Heffley

16. Midwives—Chris Bohjalian

Bus Schedules Don't Mean a Thing in a Winter Storm

The New England states are just being burdened with several huge snow storms (and parts of the Midwest have been without power, due to a huge snow storm). Yet, Minnesota has already experienced several storms (though not as harsh as the two previous regions) and the storms have caused havoc on many bus riders (i.e. me). I am serious when I say that bus schedules don't mean a thing in a winter storm. For example, one evening after work, I waited for thirty minutes in the cold for my bus (I was lucky since others were already there for at least an hour and a half, and were still waiting). When I finally saw my bus, it just passed me by-it was already full and the driver refused to allow any more passengers on. I thought it was best to call someone to come and just get me. An hour later, due to REALLY bad traffic, I finally got home (my home is only a fifteen minute drive from my work).

Anyhow, Minnesota hasn't experienced any more snow storms, but it has been very, very COLD. I believe it is currently zero degrees in my part of the State. I heard on the radio today that the cold keeps out the "rift raft" from Minnesota. Whether this is true or not, I am wishing that I am a "rift raft."

Cake Snob

I admit that I am a cake snob. In labeling myself as a snob, I don’t mean that the cake must come from a “brand name” bakery or be made of the most expensive ingredients available. I only mean that I have a particular idea of what a cake must taste like.

I am like most Americans and expect my cake to be slightly moist (Europeans expect their cakes to be a bit dry), but not cake-mix moist (most boxed cake mixes contain pudding that makes the cake super moist). I also like the cake to be made from scratch. This, I believe makes all the difference because boxed cake mixes, unlike those made from scratch, contain too many preservatives and “stuff” that affect the flavor of the cake. Not surprising, my snobbery have lead me to bake and find the perfect recipe for whatever cake I may be in the mood for. I think I’ve found the perfect recipe for chocolate cake and I’ve been working on a carrot cake recipe. [Personally, I think the carrot cake has been maligned and there’s some awful standard recipe that gets passed among most bakeries—who therein bake and sell something that is supposed to be carrot cake to its customers.]

Anyhow, I won’t further bemoan about the inferiority of boxed cake mixes. I am a cake snob, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t eat cake made from a box (although my preference is for a cake made from scratch).

NaNoWriMo

I recently saw a news headline stating that the creativity of Americans may be diminishing (probably due to too much television). This prompted me to help spread the word about NaNoWriMo (visit the website at http://www.nanowrimo.org/).

I came across NaNoWriMo almost a year ago, via an internet article. Although I should’ve written about NaNoWriMo at an earlier point, it’s never too late to spread the word about it. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and November is the designated month. The purpose of NaNoWriMo is to have participants (there’s no official membership process, although one could sign up to be part of a collective) to begin writing November 1, with the goal of writing a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30. Regardless of these very flexible guidelines, NaNoWriMo is intended for all participants to write, emphasizing quantity and not quality. The ultimate goal is for participants to just write (and I think, to be creative).

Last year, when I participated, I came up with a lot of ideas and I actually wrote several pages. Not surprising, I turned my “novel” into a “play,” which I have not yet finished. However, going through the process (i.e. taking time out of each day to concentrate and write my “novel”) has taught me that the writing process is hard, and I have also gained a lot of insight about myself and my writing style. Anyhow, I will participate in NaNoWriMo this year, even if it’s already November 8. I already know that I may not write a 175-page novel, but I’m willing to try my best, and to stretch my creativity limbs. The worst thing I can get out of this experience, again, is that I learn more about myself.

Winter is Coming

It has finally gotten cold in my part of the world (especially since it’s already November). Every year I tell myself that I can withstand the cold, and it’s especially easy to forgive the cold during the spring and summer seasons (really, the cold just doesn’t seem that bad). However, my misgiving about the cold disappears when the frigid air actually envelopes me and enters into my lungs. I then curse to myself (unfortunately too loudly) and wonder why I’m still in Minnesota.

Since this is the first year that I’m trying to establish my cottage garden, I actually care as to how the weather will affect my plants. In previous years, I’ve only grown a vegetable garden and didn’t really care about the state of my garden (once the tomatoes and herbs have been picked, I’d just wait until spring to clear my garden and replant). Now, I’m worrying whether my plants will survive the winter and all things related to my plants’ survival (e.g. has the ground frozen, do I have enough leaves to provide a cover for my plants, should I bring my containerized plants into the garage now, do I even have enough room in my junky garage for my container plants, etc). At some point, I eventually have to rein in my worries, and have faith that I know enough to get by and that Mother Nature (in her own way) will take care of my garden.

Pride and Prejudice

Okay, I will admit that I was prejudiced about the 2005 movie, Pride & Prejudice (which premiered in the US on November 11, 2005). I thought the movie was going to be mindless and vacuous, in which the movie’s romance would be driven by marketing executives. My prejudice was further fueled by my opinion that too many movies today, that are based on a book, have been poorly made and often don’t live up to the spirit of the book. [Not surprising, the book is often way better than the movie.] So, I resisted watching the movie.

Then one evening in the spring of 2007 (almost two years later) I happen to catch the movie on cable. And I am not ashamed to admit that I was so very wrong about the 2005 Pride & Prejudice movie. I’m so in love with that movie right now, and I will admit that I’ve been watching the movie more often than I should (at least three times in a week, especially since I got the DVD as a birthday gift). The cinematography and the musical score is FANTASTIC. The director’s vision of the movie is very different from the book, but it’s so beautiful. Kiera Knightley makes a wonderful Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew McFadyen is so dreamy as Mr. Darcy. Even though this movie does not strictly follow the book (like the 1995 BBC mini-series, aka the “Colin Firth version”), the movie lives up to the spirit of Jane Austen’s book. I won’t go on and on about what I love about this movie, but I believe that it’s well made, and I personally believe that it’s better than the 1995 BBC version.

Anyhow, if you have not seen the movie, go rent it. Or else, you can just wait to watch it with me. The movie will make you swoon and believe in romance.

A (Cherry) Tree Grows in St. Paul

About a month ago, I purchased and planted a Mesabi cherry tree. The tree is now in my backyard and I’m so happy that it’s there (and I have not yet lamented about the price I paid for it).

I actually did a lot of research about cherry trees before I made my purchase. I had to consider the fact that I needed a cherry tree hardy to my zone (I’m in Zone 4), not only so that it can withstand Minnesota’s harsh winters, but it needed to be able to fruit in Minnesota’s short summers. I also needed a tree that was self pollinating, or else I would've had to purchase two cherry trees. For example, I was told that a Bing cherry tree needed a pollinator, in other words, another cherry tree in order for the Bing cherry tree to fruit (FYI-one can grow a Bing cherry tree in Minnesota, but it wouldn’t fruit adequately because of the weather here). I also needed a dwarf-sized cherry tree, due to my small back yard. Lastly, I wanted a tree that would provide cherries that I could pick and eat. Many sweet cherries (such as the Bing cherry) are grown on the West Coast, but sour cherries (cherries used in making pies) are mainly grown in the Midwest. Generally, sour cherries often have to be cooked first before it can be eaten. So, after much research, I purchased my Mesabi cherry tree (which was developed by the University of Minnesota), which produced semi-sweet and tart cherries that I could pick and eat.

To make the long story short, I’m really excited that I'm growing a cherry tree in my yard. I think it’s three to five years old and I’m hoping that it will fruit within the next two to three years (yes, it sounds like a long time, but time does fly by).

Embracing Minnesota's Winters

I’ve started reading My Garden [Book]: by Jamaica Kincaid (an author I first heard of when I was an undergraduate in college). She writes about her gardening experiences (a pursuit she took up as an adult) and ties it to issues relating to colonialism, imperialism, feminism, racism, etc. It’s a fascinating book.

Ms. Kincaid doesn’t hide her disdain for certain subjects, and this is especially true for the cold (at the time of writing she may have been living in Vermont). She despises the cold and will not embrace it (instead, only allowing herself to love the spring-especially spring and summer) because the winter hides her garden. Even though I agree with Ms. Kincaid on that point, as a gardener, I have reluctantly learned to love and embrace the Minnesota cold. The reason is that there are many plants that I love and have in my garden (blueberry plants and daylilies), which requires a cold period in order for the plant to bloom. Therefore, many of these plants would not produce as well (or even survive) in a warm climate (such as Fresno, CA). Thus, I have learned, RELUCTANTLY, that I need to love the cold (at least for the sake of some of my plants).