Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash

I like to try one new dish for Thanksgiving every year just to shake things up.  I wasn't sure I would be able to do that this year but I found this one and thought I would give it a try.  I want my family and friends to try new things and at Thanksgiving there are plenty of everything else that a bite of something won't kill them. The orange gave this a very nice flavor.  A hint thought this is not a dish to leave on the stove to keep warm.  It is much better when it is first made.

This turns out to be a very pretty fall dish.

You can use fresh brussels sprouts if you want to but you will need to steam them a little first.

The recipe suggest to mix the dressing first so that the flavors will have time to blend while you cook the sprouts and squash.  Start with 2 Tablespoons melted butter.

 2 Tablespoons honey

1 Tablespoons orange zest.  I didn't measure just zested the orange.

3 Tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice.  This came from the orange that I zested.

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Peel and chop the butternut squash

Go ahead and cut the sprouts in half.

Saute the squash in 1 Tablespoon olive oil.

You will want it to get that nice and golden color on the edges. Take it up in a bowl.

Add 1 Tablespoon more of olive oil to the pan and saute them as well. After they get the brown around the edges...

Add the butternut squash to the sprouts.

Pour the dressing over the veggies.

Add about 3/4 cup pecans to the mixture.  I didn't measure.

Add about 1/2 cup dried cranberries to the top.

Stir well and let simmer for a few minutes to soak up the dressing.

I think we had some happy customers.

Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash Recipe

1 lb brussels sprouts halved

1 1/2 lb butternut squash peeled then diced

2 Tablespoons olive oil divided

3/4 cup pecans

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Orange Glaze

2 Tablespoons melted butter

2 Tablespoon honey

3 Tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice

1 Tablespoon orange zest

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Gooey and Cheesy Warm Bacon Dip

Cheese and bacon what could be better right? This dip was so easy to throw together but taste like you spent a long time on it.  I served it with taco chips but you could use just about anything.

Look at all that ooey gooey goodness.

With the exception of the green onions you probably have everything you need already.

Start with 8 oz of softened cream cheese. I used reduced fat.

2 cups sour cream.  I used reduced fat on that as well.

1/2 cup sliced green onions.  I didn't measure I just chopped until I thought I had enough.

6 slices of bacon that has been cooked and chopped.  I cooked this bacon in the oven, my new favorite way of cooking it.  Don't forget to cook an extra piece of bacon for the cook.  There is no way you can cook bacon and not eat some.

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.

Mix it all together.

Place it in a sprayed baking dish.  Place in a preheated 400 oven.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.

It was so good when it was straight from the oven and so hot and cheesy.

I think they liked it.

Gooey and Cheesy Warm Bacon Dip Recipe

8 oz softened cream cheese
2 cups sour cream
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
1/2 cup sliced green onions

Bake in a preheated 400 oven for 25-30 minutes.

A Sneak Peek

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone and most of you have decorated for Christmas.  There is nary a tree in sight around here, yet.  I was going to wait until I had decorated for Christmas and had all my stuff back in the house to share pictures with you.  Since it might be a little longer I decided to give you a sneak peek of the kitchen.  I know that is what most of you want to see anyway.

This is the inside bar area of the kitchen.

Now to see inside.  This is my silverware drawer.

The top shelf slides back and forth.

My baking drawer.  All my baking supplies in one area underneath my work area.

I love this drawer.  It is a divider drawer for plastic containers.  I spent one afternoon washing and matching up containers and lids.

I have a pull out drawer/door for my garbage cans.

And on top is a butcher block with a hole over the cans.  I need to season it and I now have the stuff to do it so I can use this.  The cabinet builder said this was the first one he had put in.

Next to the sink is another row of drawers.

Top drawer is my knife drawer.  Nice to have one place for all of them and not run the risk of cutting yourself trying to get one out. The two drawers underneath are just drawers for paper plates and dish towels.

On the back of the kitchen I have this little cabinet.

Another little pinterest find.  These shelves allow you to layer your 9x13 pans and other dishes without stacking them.

The dreaded corner cabinet.  In my other cabinets I had two doors that opened and I had a lazy Susan but things would fall off, you know the drill.  The cabinet guy came up with drawers.  They have an unusual shape to them. But they are very useful.  The bottom two so far have become drawers for those things that right now do not have another place to go.

The drawers under the cooktop.  

 This is one of my favorite drawers.  There was never a good place for these boxes.  They want to fall off the shelf in the pantry, you stack them up and what you want is on the bottom.  This drawer is perfect.

 The two drawers underneath that one is for my pots and pans.  I haven't found my pots and pans yet so they have become catch alls right now too.

 Next to the cooktop are three more drawers.  These are for all those cooking utensils.

 It may look messy but I know where everything is.

 Under the ovens.  I had them raise the ovens a little higher than they were because I wanted this drawer underneath.

This drawer is deep enough for all the cookie sheets and things to stand up in.

I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek.  I can't wait to show you the rest of it soon.  Even more I can't wait to decorate for Christmas.

Holiday Baking Part 1

It is that time of year again.  It is Christmas baking time.  Here are some recipes that will help make your holidays special.  I thought about doing a 12 Days of Holiday Baking thing but decided just to put them all in one post.

What does every naughty little girl or boy need in their stockings? A lump of coal of course.  But this coal is edible!

Lump of Coal Cookies

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie

Pecan Sandies

Chocolate Cherry Blossoms

Cranberry Orange Cookies

Holiday Cake Mix Cookies

I will share more holiday recipes with you tomorrow.  I can't wait to start my own baking this year.