I found a great recipe from Rachael Ray that I’m going to test on my family for Thanksgiving:

Harvest Moon Macaroni

* 1 pound macaroni, such as cassarecci, strozzopretti or ziti with lines
* 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
* 1 medium onion, finely chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 3 tablespoons all-purpose four
* 1 cup chicken stock
* 1 1/2 cups whole milk
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* Nutmeg, grated, to taste
* 1 box frozen butternut squash (10 ounces), defrosted
* A few dashes of hot sauce
* 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
* 1 cup extra sharp yellow cheddar cheese
* A handful of fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon sweet paprika

Bring a pot of water to a boil, season with salt and cook the macaroni to al dente.
Pre-heat the broiler and place a rack in the middle of the oven.
Heat the EVOO in a saucepot over medium heat. Sauté the onions and garlic until soft, 6-7 minutes, and stir in the thyme.
Scoot the onions off to the side of the pan and melt the butter. Whisk the flour into the butter and combine, about 1 minute. Whisk in the stock and milk, then season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg and cook until thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the defrosted butternut squash and a few dashes of hot sauce. Reduce the heat. When the sauce comes to a bubble, stir in the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Combine the sauce and macaroni, transfer to a casserole dish and top with the shredded yellow cheddar cheese, parsley and paprika. Brown the macaroni under the broiler, 4-5 minutes, until brown and bubbly.

I think it sounds pretty damn tastey! I’m such a sucker for Rachael Ray. Results with pictures soon!

In 2009 I:
+ will work full time, or as much as they can stand for me to.
+ will have time to read for fun.
+ will work on my career and won’t be stressed out and bogged down with school.
+ will have time for Nathan and time to be healthier (this goes together because all he does is hike).
+ will be out of debt!
+ will leave the past year where it belongs – in the past.

At least part of that is true anway. Meet my new best friends. ♥

I finally got around to watching and re-watching Sex and the City enough to develop an opinion.

The movie didn’t have the same feel as the show to me. And the endless whoring of designers?! The show was all about labels but it was never as annoying or obvious. When Carrie was trying on wedding dressing and saying the designers she didn’t sound excited, she sounded like she was selling them.

I know it would have been too simple for Carrie to just get married in that gorgeous dress in that amazing library. I guessed they would get back together, but part of me wondered if maybe Carrie was destined to be single and have fun.  It felt like it was less in the spirit of Sex and the City and more just to please the fans. Would the Carrie from the early seasons of the show have taken him back? But she did say herself that she didn’t recognize herself.

I cried harder at the end that any other part. There’s nowhere to really go from there and as much as I enjoyed the movie and will watch it again, part of me can’t help but think that maybe the last episode of the show should have been the end.

“You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.”

Paul Sweeney

mommy’s little bookmark

Originally uploaded by didifoolyou

Every time I abandoned my book for even a second, Georgia made sure I didn’t lose my place.

fuck this time and place.

So, long time no blog. I’ve slumped back into my laziness of not taking photos and all my plans to go and see and do cool things fell through because I have a job now. That and I’m just lazy about everything.

“It’s not what, I’m used to

Just wanna try you on….

No, I don’t even know your name
It doesn’t matter
You’re my experimental game”

I just want to scream how much I hate Katy Perry’s “I Kiss A Girl” song. I don’t think I need to say it, but I have absolutely no problem with other people’s sexual preferences but this song just rubs me the wrong way. Experimenting is one thing but the prudish me thinks it’s trashy. It just sounds like it’s sung by someone who’s just trying to be cool.