Kneadful Things

New Year's Resolutions....

1. Pick someone to vote for, that I actually like.

2. Be a good parent.

3. Relax.

4. Drink more water.

5. Quit spending so much $$$ at the evil empire.

This Post is all over the Place....Martha Stewart Recipes-Christmas list contd...Staying fit and healthy while Very Pregnant in the winter!

So normally, I don't endorse ANYTHING Martha Stewart. I don't need to. She is the most amazing self promoter the world has ever seen. Have you watched her show? She can turn ANYTHING-ANY SUBJECT AT ALL-into a Martha Stewart line product placement.

Guest: "When I was in Rome, at the Vatican...."

Martha: "Have you seen the new Martha Stewart roman shades at Macy's?"

But, I did make a soup that was one of her "Body and Soul" recipes. It was really effing good. I very much liked it.-Here it is-It's a squash soup with Parmesan croutons (optional) warm, seasonal, and yummy. Perfect for cold days where the sun never shines and all you want are your slippers and a robe.

Serves 6

• 2 3/4 pounds orange-flesh winter squash, such as butternut
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium leek, trimmed, white and green parts, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (1 cup)
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger, or more to taste
• 1 medium parsnip, (4 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 4 cups Homemade Chicken Stock, or canned low-sodium chicken broth, skimmed of fat
• 2 three-quarter-inch slices whole-wheat bread, crusts removed
• 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Cut squash in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds and fiber, and peel. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces, and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-low heat. Cook leek and garlic until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add ginger, squash, and parsnips. Stir, and cook over medium heat, 3 to 5 minutes. Add salt, pepper, and stock. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook until the squash and parsnips are tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer half the mixture to a food processor, and puree. Return to the stockpot until warm throughout. Adjust the seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Meanwhile, cut the bread into 1/2-inch cubes. Toast under the broiler until golden brown. Sprinkle with Parmesan, and return to the broiler, until the cheese begins to melt. Serve the soup in individual bowls with the toasted-cheese croutons on top.

There are a few items I am lusting after this holiday season....All very practical....But Oh-So-Me.

First-I do A LOT of baking and cooking. They now have a kitchen aid mixer IN GREEN. MY FAVORITE COLOR, EVER! A pretty, real, green.

available at Macy's.

I need a new water bottle....desperately. I love this one from SIGG. They are environmentally friendly-and very stylish. Not to mention super fun. Gotta tote around my iced tea or water, somehow.

How do I stay fit and healthy during my pregnancy? Especially now that it's the WINTER?!?!?! I bundle up. I wear a lot of layers and head on outside! Two things that I think will help this cause? These two fab items from Athleta. They happen to sell them in tall sizes and the boot in my gargantuan size 11.

Aren't they cute? I just love them. Well, I pretty much love everything at Athleta. Even though they are a bit on the pricey side-I have NEVER had a problem with the quality. And I do a lot of working out in their clothes. They last and last. LOVE THAT. Makes me want to grab a hot tea and head out right now! Too bad it's pouring freezing rain out there. That always makes for fun times.

So, completely off of the subject, but very funny. Led Zepplin has reunited. Do you think that when you are in your sixties, a song like "Stairway to Heaven" has a much more significant meaning to you when you get the AARP mag in the mail each month? Also, I remember the church ladies when I was little spouting about how "If you play their music backwards, it tells you to kill your mother and don't brush your teeth" or something similar. Do you think if you played a new song backward it would say something like "Don't forget your metamucil"? That would be great. Do you think they'll go on tour? That would be a killer concert. Seeing as how they stopped touring years before my birth, I think I would like to see them.

I am going to go eat an orange, now. They're in season, ya know.

What to wear....

So alas, today is my birthday.....somewhere in my 20's and I have a dilemma. Today myself and my friend Marla, are going to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens for some great photographic opportunities and a lovely outdoor lunch. Great, I know what to wear to that. Here is my dilemma, my husband has a "surprise" for me tonight, and I have NO idea what to wear.  I thought of chic jeans and a crisp white cotton with bold acessories, but then I thought, perhaps to casual. So now, I am stuck between skinny pants and Cathering Malandrino top or wide leg pants and same crisp white cotton with accessories. Oy Vey.