Hi friends!
I kicked back with some tea during my call today. Twinnings Chai. I’ve been in a chai mood lately! However, this was on the weak side. Maybe I am getting used to loose leaf after all?
I have decided that in the name of photography we need to be eating dinner earlier! We caught the very last drops of sunlight as we sat down around 6PM. When we were cleaning up at 7 it was black out! This means that we must start thinking about dinner at 5PM because most dinners take a while to make! However, tonight, I was thinking about lenses and before I knew it Matt had most of the meal made.
All I had written on the menu for tonight was "Succotash" (with homemade lima beans and canned corn). We soaked half a bag of limas last night and boiled them this afternoon. Then Matt added canned corn, half a can of tomato paste, salt + peppa, chili powder, cumin and cayenne. It was great!
We also roasted up all of the centerpiece squashes from our Housecooling party. So sad that they are no longer available as décor! Must buy more
I miss the dots of orange.
Hard as it was, I did not eat the skins. You know what they do to my intestines…
The squash was roasted at 400* for about 40 minutes and tossed in coconut oil beforehand. We drizzled on a bit more coconut butter at the end. It’s the BEST!
A make-shift salad that I contributed. Some arugula on its last leg, olive oil and bleu cheese.
Let’s talk about bleu cheese! I LOVE it. But I really really love it when it gets this marshmallow sweet taste. So while grocery shopping today, I asked the cheese monger for a recommendation. I’m not sure he completely understood what I meant by "marshmallowy" but he gave me one kind to sample. It was delicious (because it was bleu cheese) but it was a bit tangy/sour. Not marshmallowy at all. Then he gave me this one – which is almost crunchy in the bleu veins – and hit the spot. It’s not the most marshmallow I have ever tasted.
The early dinner meant we were finished before 7! What to do with the evening? I had a craving to make something, so I made Crunchy Buckwheat Granola!
And then pulverized a bunch of steel cut oats I bought today into [hopefully] Scottish oats for real (apparently pulverizing rolled oats isn’t really Scottish. They come from steel cut).
And because all of the granola didn’t fit in my Ball jar… snack!
Nite!
Simply Life says
oh what a fun and colorful dinner!
Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama says
Mmmm I love bleu cheese, too! Love a good, strong cheese.
Angie (My Life in Bites) says
I love roasted squash – it just screams fall!
Squash skins kind of tear me up as well but not if I eat them for dinner because I have the whole night to digest them. Is it so bad that you can’t ever eat the skins? If so, that’s too bad – I love the chew and fiber!
mindy @ just a one girl revolution. says
You and Matt always have the best meals!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Daylight does make for the best pics! Your pics always look great though 🙂
Have a great night!
Christine says
It is so hard to get strong flavor from tea, it usually has good flavor but not strong, and NO body like coffee. I’ve taken to brewing my tea with extra milk to make up for it.
I was decorating with squash too–my dad didn’t believe you could eat them!! Well, I cooked him one last night–but restocked beforehand.
Hmmm, “marshmallow-y”?
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
I hate that it’s getting so dark so early! That is the worst part about fall! I can’t wait until daylight savings!
Mandiee says
Is it weird that I’m jealous you had squash tonight? 😉 I noticed the corners of my mouth and fingers tinting orange so I prohibited myself from having more squash tonight. However, I know I won’t be nearly as strong tomorrow. What can I say, squash is my FAVORITE food! Do you have any recommendations for avoiding this oranging? How much beta carotene is too much?
Anyway, you succotash looks and sounds amazing! Does Matt have approximations for some of the recipe? If so, I would love to make it :).
Have a lovely day!
xox
Kath says
I don’t appear to be orange myself yet, but I’m surprised it hasn’t happened! I don’t think it’s avoidable. The generally recommendation is just to slow down on the orange foods 🙁
Hannah says
I know *exactly* what you mean by marshmallowy blue cheese! Oh lord I love blue cheese, but it’s SO out of my budget these days!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I like the Fall and Winter, but it is depressing how early it is getting dark!
claire says
I also had squash and beans tonight! This all looks beautiful Kath!
Laughter-Loving Stacy says
Ohhh that look SO yummy! And I love blue cheese too. That and feta are my favorite. 😀
Krystina (Organically Me) says
Boo that you can’t eat the skins – they’re my favorite part!
holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
I must not eat enough bleu cheese because I have no idea what you mean by “marshmallowy”!
Your dinner was so pretty with fall colors!
Amanda (Eating Up) says
You and Matt have a way with food! Your kitchen must always have activity in it!
Emilyeatsclean says
Another delicious looking meal…..very colorful!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Beautiful photos!! I’ve never liked blue cheese but maybe I’ve been eating the wrong kind?
Meg says
Squash is sooo divine, I had butternut with dinner 😀
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
The earlier and earlier sunset makes me rush my dinner making!! I want my 9 PM daylight back!
Rachael says
Great pictures! I’ve noticed that our nine o’clock dinner hour isn’t doing wonders for my foods shots…
Succotash was one of my favorite words to say as a kid. Actually, I think it was my parent’s favorite word for me to say, since I had a gnarly lisp…
Very harvesty looking meal!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I’ve never had succotash, I like the way it looks though; nice and filling! 🙂
Daylight eludes most of my pictures. 🙁 Makes me sad!
Caitlin (EatFeats) says
I’ve never had succotash before, but it looks like a combination of many of my favorite foods! Interesting!
Hope says
Ah, bleu cheese…my favourite cheese of all time! I think I know exactly what you mean by marshmellow-y!! Hubby won’t touch the stuff, he’ll sit there looking at it saying “thats so gross, its like..mouldy”
Oh well, more for me I say!
Nicole @ yuppie yogini says
Marshmallow bleu cheese…the cheese guy probably did think you were crazy! So cute 🙂
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
What a vibrant and tasty dinner!
And I really love your cloth napkins! Do you use them every night?
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Tossing the squash in coconut oil is genius- it must give them such a nice flavor!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Tossing the squash in coconut oil is genious- it must give them such a nice flavor!
Kristen @ Kristen, Sweetly says
“Because all of the granola didn’t fit in my Ball jar.” Hahaha. Please. I would make extra just so I’d be able to say that!!! :-p
Cara Craves... says
I am not really a true blue cheese fan…though I do like it on salads.
Eileen says
Now, that’s succotash I might actually enjoy … it looks delicious! My ONLY experience with it was from my elementary school cafeteria, where it had nary a spice and was probably grossly undercooked.
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
just got a jar of coconut butter and have been wondering what to do with it – roasted squash sounds like a good idea!
Maddie says
Haha I love how you describe the bleu cheese as “marshmallow-y!” I love all of the colorful roasted squash.
Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat says
Ha, I need to try some marshmellow-y blue cheese. I’ve never gotten that flavor out of it, but maybe I was just trying the wrong kind!
Marina says
Succotash sounds pretty great, maybe I could make it soon… I need meal ideas 🙂
Buckwheat granola is so addictive!
Lyn says
I love blue cheese too. I had the most fantastic salad the other day, so simple but amazing. It was baby spinach leaves topped with toasted chopped hazelnuts and blue cheese, with a few huckleberries on top. Really, the toasted hazelnuts with the blue cheese was terrific. You must try it 🙂
Lily@Rabbit Food Runner says
This is my first comment, so first I want to say hi and I think your blog is amazing! Also the succotash looks great (and it’s fun to say succotash!).
I was wondering about taking dinner pictures without natural light (I’m new to blogging) do you have any tips for taking a good pic with incandescent lights?
Kath says
Welcome!!
Non-natural light is awful 🙁 But do you know how to change your light balance? That will help. You can google white balance for a tutorial
lillasn1gel says
I love your blog. I’m sure you’ve heard this lotsa times, but I am hooked. I have been experimenting with oatmeal a little more since I started reading it – yummeh!
Kath says
Welcome!
Mage says
I love veggies! Those foods are sure healthy, i like the roasted squash and blue cheese!
Heidi - apples under my bed says
Such a shame it didn’t all fit in the jar, hey! 🙂 I know what you mean about blue cheese texture. mmmmmm. The pumpkin with coconut butter looks amazing too. Another great meal 🙂
Heidi xo
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Fun dinner!!
I wish I could eat squash skins, but I’m the same as you when it comes to intestine un-happiness. 😉 It’s just not worth it.
stacey-healthylife says
I really need to find some coconut oil. For so long I thought coconut oil and coconut butter were the same thing.
Allie says
Mmm that succotash looks amazing!!
Errign says
Coconut oil on squash sounds divine – but does the coconutty flavor mask the squash flavor? (The delicata squash you’ve got on your plate is my new favorite squash for this week, haha – so delicious)
Per your recommendation, I bought some Scottish oats (on sale 2/4$) and I LOVE them – not sure I’ll ever be able to give them up!
Kath says
The coconut ENHANCES the squash flavor!!
Yay for Scottish. I hope my homemade works!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
The only time I tried blue cheese when I was really young and I remember hating it! 😛 I want to give it another try now that I’m older though since a lot of my tastes have changed.
notyet100 says
platter looks so yum,.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i don’t know if i know what “marshmallowy” means with reference to bleu cheese…but i love it all the same!
KJ says
Nothing sounds better to me than a salad of simply arugula, olive oil, and blue cheese! You gotta’ appreciate when you go to the store and the cheese monger or other employee takes their time helping you find exactly what you need 🙂
How do you feel about blue cheese in traditionally sweet dishes? Have you ever made a blue cheese cheesecake or souffle? I’ve seen a few recipes out there that have interested me…
Kath says
I’ve had it in a souffle before – amazing! Cheesecake…wow
Christie {Honoring Health} says
We have those little squashes at my CSA and I don’t have the heart to eat them. They are just too cute. We have the tiniest little butternuts, too. They look like baby rattles 🙂
Claire (Low Impact Fashionista) says
Your roasted squash looks so cute cut into perfect little rings! next time I’m entertaining I will totally cut it pretty like that instead of into huge hunks ‘o’ squash.
Camille says
Haha, I totally realized that the other day too! I have to eat dinner by 6 so the lighting is pretty!
Vicky @ eat live spin says
I love loose tea… I go to coffee and tea shops in NYC and try new types of tea all the time. I use non-bleached tea sleeves to make tea bags.
My new obsession is basil olive oil but I love the idea of using coconut oil to roast squash. Great idea, definitely going to try it soon!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing says
It makes me sad that it’s getting dark so early all of a sudden! I’m excited for fall and winter but I wish it could be light outside from morning to night year round :).
Marcia says
Yum. Roasted squash is the BEST. I am growing some delicatas and butternuts in the front of my house right now. AND, I just learned that you have to let them ripen for 2 weeks after you pick them. Good to know. My first time growing squash. I’ve never tried to eat the skins. They are impossible to cut/peel, can’t imagine chewing them.
And I have a love affair of blue cheese…being pregnant just about killed me, what with the no blue, feta, goat, or brie cheeses.
Jenna says
Hey Kath! I definitely just bought some garlic gold — SO excited =)
P.S. My new favorite breakfast: Roasted squash (butternut or acorn) topped with greek yogurt, maple syrup, and chopped figs. Seems like something you would enjoy, so I figured I’d tell you about it!
Coco @ Opera Girl Cooks says
Kath, I think I miiiight know what you mean about “marshmallowy” blue cheese . . . you’ve got to try gorgonzola dolce!
http://www.amazon.com/Gorgonzola-Dolce-Pound-Cut-pound/dp/B0000D9N0F
Kath says
I think that’s what I’ve had in restaurants before
lauri (redheadrecipes.com) says
Blue cheese does to me what onions do to you! Blech!!! But I do love some goat cheese 🙂
Dawn (HealthySDLiving) says
Mmm that meal looks amazing!
Emily (For Sweets Sake) says
you got me in the mood for chai now! I may have to go out and get some tonight 🙂
Sarah @ BikingNBaking says
The tiny squash are ADORABLE! Even cut up into rings! I didn’t even know they were edible!