health issues

This week my husband found out he has high blood pressure and cholesterol. The doctors told him he is too young for medication and needs to make some life changes---lose weight, exercise, eat better, stop smoking, etc. I really didn't think we ate THAT bad. They said no more junk food---we don't even eat junk food. They said stop salting food---he never salts food. The whole thing is quite scary. He suspected all of these things but to have someone actually take the tests and tell you the numbers, that's a reality check.

weekend treats

The stuffed squash were a little disappointing. I substituted some marjoram, oregano and rosemary for the Herbs de Provence and added extra Parmesan cheese (we love cheese) but the stuffing ended up still being quite bland. Plus, the squash were a bit underdone. There are still two little pattypans in the fridge. You know the recipe wasn't a success if there are un-eaten leftovers 3 days later.

Sunday, I had to cram in 2 social events and needed make 2 *quick* desserts in the morning. I decided on a recipe I had been wanting to try in Everyday Food for a Rustic Apple Tart. Never having worked with frozen puff pastry before I didn't realize that you have to THAW the dough before you can work with it. duh. So, I thawed it in the microwave and surprisingly it worked! I made 2 tarts---one peach and one apple. Both were well received by the crowds. Definitely a keeper.

I started thinking that I could try making the puff pastry myself and forget the frozen stuff...but doesn't that defeat the purpose of a *quick* recipe? Would it really taste any better if I made it from scratch?

Oh, here's an idea for the grill from my in-laws. They stuffed banana peppers with italian sausage and threw them on the grill, served with a little marinara on the side. Nice way to use those peppers.

Holly Golightly

Didn't get to my squash last night. I ended up going to my niece's t-ball game and then to the Beachland Ballroom to see The Woggles and Holly Golightly. It was a great time but a late night out for a Thursday. I am getting old.

Must cook squash before it goes bad...I will feel terribly sad if I waste my CSA produce.

squash, tons of it

I joined a local csa (community supported agriculture) farm this year. I decided to join at the every-other week drop off level, rather than the every week. Just trying it out this year.

So far i've paid $90 and gotten 2 soft coolers to store/hold the food that gets dropped off at my house and one shipment of food delivered. I just wished we would have gotten a few more tomatoes---they were incredibly sweet. The CSA people did promise not to overload us with squash too often---two people can only eat so much squash! The shipment contained:

• 2 heads of lettuce
• 2 pickles (my husband was very happy about these!)
• 1 green pepper
• 1 hot pepper
• 2 big zucchini
• 2 zephyr squash
• 2 papaya pear squash
• a bunch of patty pan squash
• 6 eggs
• a baggie of cherry tomatoes

Everything we've eaten has been delicous and really fresh tasting. We've grilled lots of sqash and made many salads. I used the eggs to make Oeuf Cocotte and am going to try stuffing the patty pans tonight with another recipe from Chocolate & Zucchini called Courgettes Rondes Farcies.

The questions I have about the CSA are----how many more deliveries will there be? and, would it be cheaper and/or easier for me to pick out the produce I want at one of the farmer's markets? But, I'm in love with the delivery aspect...it's fun to come home to a cooler full of scrumption surprises!!!

Who's cooking? Who's eating?

i've been using a good portion of my days recently reading blogs. i think i've become addicted. there are so many out there and each one links to a hundred more. how will i ever get to read them all? well, i've figured out not all of them are worth reading but that you don't find that out right away.

what i can't find much about is food or restaraunts or cooking in cleveland. there's the cleveland.com food forum...which is interesting, but not very busy. i havn't come across anyone cooking and posting either. maybe i just haven't found them yet. i will keep looking and i guess i'll start spending some of my time posting rather than just reading. why not?