The Macs » Blog

squash farmer {a few answers to your questions}

It cracks me up that I am even attempting to answer gardening questions. But, for what it is worth, here are a few answers to your questions:

What am I going to do with all my butternut squash?
Good question. I planted butternut squash seeds so that I could make baby food for Levi. The recipe I use is from Wholesome Baby Food. That website is where I get all my information on making homemade baby food. It is a great site!
My in-laws cut their squash in half and bake it (just like in the baby food recipe). They eat it with butter and brown sugar. At least that is what Joel tells me…I hope that is right Joel!
If you go back to the comments on the squash farmer post you can find recipes for butternut squash cake and butternut squash lasagna. Thanks Jen! Someone also suggested butternut squash soup…I need that recipe Ashley. So, I am going to try a few new recipes and then I will give the rest of the squash away.
What varieties of pumpkins did you grow?
Here they are:
Sweet Lightning
Baby Boo
Jack Be Little
Longface Hybrid
Rouge Vif D’Etampes
Jamboree Hybrid
My father-in-law bought all the seeds for me from Jung Seed Co.
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Did you notice I have something new on my blog? Check out the pray section on the left sidebar. There are links to two sweet little girls, Kate and Sydney. I would love it if you would join me in praying for them. Kate is still fighting her battle with cancer over a year later and Sydney just got diagnosed last week. Please pray for both of these girls and their families.
There is also a link to vote for Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation to win the Pepsi Refresh Everything Contest. Today is the last day to vote, so go vote NOW!
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If you are wanting to enter the Sheila Walsh book giveaway please leave a comment on this post. Comments close Friday, October 1st at 10pm (CST). I have ten books to giveaway, so make sure you enter!!
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  • Carla - We have severe squash envy in this house from looking at your blog lol. our climate is too wet and our poor pumpkins just rotted in the ground this year, boo hoo. Thankfully there is lots of butternut squash in the supermarkets. Squash soup is very easy, just roast the squash with some onions, garlic and thyme if you have it for about 45 mins, warm up some stock, chicken or vegetable, add in the roasted veg and blend, et voila, some delicious soup…it freezes well too.
    I made this lasagne last weekend for my son’s Naming Day party and got tonnes of compliments on it, i made about 4 times this recipe and added a tub (200ml) of ricotta cheese into the mashed squash: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4104/butternut-squash-lasagne

    Oh and don’t discard the seeds, wash them, coat them in a little olive oil, shake on some salt and black pepper and roast them (can’t remember how long, keep an eye on them so they don’t burn, think they take about 20 mins) and you have a perfect snack for watching Football, much healthier than chips πŸ™‚ReplyCancel

  • HisTreasuredPossession - they look amazing! And I love that babyfood making site too! used it for all my kids, though I am buying some now to keep my sanity with homeschooling my older 2.

    I wanted to post on ‘change’ too but I’ll just put it here. I am also travelling the change path. And it stinks. After moving from KS to CA this summer, there are times when the reality of life moving on in CA hits me so hard, I lose my breath. Life is moving on. Friends must keep living their lives. But it kills me to think I’m not a part of their day-to-day lives.

    I don’t compare this with your loss. But I understand. I was also raised in a military family so I *was* used to moving. However, KS was the longest address I had in all my 31 years and I miss it. still. 18 weeks later. {see how ridiculous I am ~ still counting weeks? sheesh!}

    But, I am enjoying seeing what God has instore for us here. It’s differnet and I’m sure more adjusting is coming this next while. But He is so faithful and I’m sure, based on His Word, he is working for my family and my good.

    blessings as you grow in Him,
    rachelReplyCancel

  • MommaMoulton - I love your posts! I acutally read Kate McRae’s story through The Tiny Sparrow foundation. I am not sure if you are on facebook or not, but I am actually friends with the founder, and she does wonderful things with photography for families yourself and Kate’s family.

    Today actually marks one year for the foundation. I believe Lidia (the founder) is located in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area.

    Blessings!
    Tanya

    p.s. I would love for you to find me on facebook…I am Tanya Hamlett Moulton πŸ™‚ReplyCancel

  • Sara - I would LOVE for you to add another sweet baby girl to your blog.
    Bella was born with a rare skin disease. She blisters to the touch, and was born with skin missing all over her body. She spent her first year wrapped from head to toe.
    Currently, she is in MN, undergoing a bone marrow transplant (big sister was the donoer)
    She is unrecognizable physically due to what this has done to her little body…
    Despite ALL of this, the family is so FAITHful. They were planning on coming home around day 100…but they will be in MN for an unknown amount of time.
    COmments to their blog are like lifelines for her mom and dad….they’ve been reading them aloud to Bella each day. As they read, her blood pressure has been perfect…
    http://www.careforanabella.blogspot.comReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - If you skin and then roast your pumpkin, mix with some chicken stock. Bring to the boil with a tin of tomatoes. Blitz with the food processor, you have the best pumpkin soup. Serve with a splash of cream and nutmeg. Stacey Western AustraliaReplyCancel

  • lil misses' mama - your harvest looks amazing!! levi is going to turn orange from all that delicious squash! but a good orange! πŸ™‚ i would like to tell you about a little girl and her family who would covet your prayers. four-year old ava is the sister of one of my daughter’s friends and she was diagnosed about 8 weeks ago with stage 4 cancer. they suspected at first that it was neuroblastoma like dear cora, but after they did a full body scan and found tumors in her kidney, liver, spleen, brain, and heart in addition to her adrenal glands, doctors all over the country have not been able to classify her form of cancer. her battle is rare and extremely dangerous as tumors surround the atrium and the inner walls and chambers of her little heart. please remember her before the throne of Our Father as only a mother whose own sweet baby has fought this war and walked this road can petition. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/avasentell
    i think of you and joel and levi every day and pray for you and for the Lord’s blessings on each of you now and forever!ReplyCancel

  • Laura - My 2nd baby is due in a little more than a week. Thanks for posting about Wholesome Homemade Baby Food site. Didn’t make baby food with my first, but will definitely be bookmarking that site so I can try this time. Thanks!ReplyCancel

  • Beki - TheRustedChain - I am so jealous of your pumpkins.

    I planted mine wayyyy too late and they still are teeny tiny. I’ll be buying them this year, I guess! (We were still moving when it was time to plant, so I missed the boat on everything.)

    I love love love the new links on your left sidebar. Great job!ReplyCancel

  • Stef - I noticed the side bar “pray” and loved it!! I’ve been reading up on Kate all day long πŸ™‚ What a sweet, sweet family. I will add her to my prayer list, “suffering through pain and sickness Saturday.”

    Thanks for sharing those, Jess.ReplyCancel

  • Nancy - A lady @ my office brought butternut squash soup yesterday & it was the best soup I’ve ever eaten. I don’t know the recipe, but it was garlic-y & yellow & delish! πŸ™‚ This is a neat post!ReplyCancel

  • kmjba8 - Butternut Squash Soup
    From the Martha Steward Everyday Food Magazine – Fall 2004
    Serves 4
    β€’ 2 tablespoons butter
    β€’ 1 small onion, chopped
    β€’ 1 piece (2 inches) fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
    β€’ 2 garlic cloves, chopped
    β€’ 2 3/4 pounds small butternut squash, prepared and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
    β€’ 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
    β€’ Coarse salt and ground pepper
    β€’ Sour cream, (optional)
    β€’ Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
    Directions
    1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, and squash; cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 4 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer until squash is tender, 20 minutes.
    2. PurΓ©e soup in two batches. When blending hot foods, allow the heat to escape to prevent splattering. Remove the cap from the hole of the blender’s lid, and cover with a dish towel. Stir in juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Serve hot, with sour cream, pepper, and pumpkin seeds, if desired.

    Spicy Pumpkin Seed Topping – Use Pepitas which are found in the Mexican food aisle of most stores

    β€’ 1 cup raw green pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
    β€’ 1 teaspoon chili powder
    β€’ 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    β€’ 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
    β€’ 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
    Directions
    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin seeds, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and lime juice; toss to coat.
    2. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until puffed and browned, about 10 minutes.ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - Thank you, Jess, for sharing the Pepsi contest on your blog. THEY WON, and I am beyond ELATED, I can’t stop crying. I have been blessed with 3 healthy, beautiful boys, and know that there is no greater Gift from God. To be able to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer was just a huge blessing, and together, we ALL made a difference.
    I see that you also shared some sites of children with cancer. There are so many, but in particular please pray for Jack Demers, going in for surgery for his 2nd relapse with NB today; Evan Lindberg who is going home on hospice today; Nick Franca who is still fighting. All of these children and more have Caringbridge pages….

    http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jackdemers
    http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/francafamily
    http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/evanlindberg
    http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babybilly
    http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jensenbyrd
    http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/piercephillips

    and so many more, it’s heartbreaking!

    Thanks for spreading the word and helping all of these families!

    With love,
    JaclinReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - I have a yummy butternut squash recipe to share: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/garlicky-baked-butternut-squash/Detail.aspx
    I look forward to the season just so I can fix this dish!ReplyCancel

  • Erin - I’m looking forward to checking out the wholesome baby food website. I am hoping to make homemade baby food when my little one arrives.

    I would also LOVE one of the books, so please enter me πŸ™‚ I love, love, books, and it sounds like a great read.ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - This is totally off the gardening subject. I have been watching your blog since Coras passing. My kids will off and on pass by and see pictures and ask about your family or Levi. My 9 year old daughter, Keagan, started growing her hair out for Locks of Love last May (she was 8 at the time). Since then she has become attached to her hair and cringes when I mention cutting it. Each day this week she has asked to see your hair cutting post and last night she told me to make the appointment!! On the 27th of this month she will get the big chop!I am so excited that she has a heart for other people and on a much more shallow note thrilled I will not find her hair everywhere!
    KathrynReplyCancel

  • the breedens - I have been praying for Kate since the beginning of her diagnosis and I think that is a great idea to add that sidebar on your blog. going to copy you and do the same type of thing!ReplyCancel

  • Mugdha - Your pumpkins look amazing! I’d recommend definitely turning some of those into pie!ReplyCancel

  • Carrie Metz - Love the links of those two sweet kids, although I may be bias towards one. πŸ™‚ Tonight I was reading a cooking blog and saw 8 ways to cook butternut squash and thought of you! So here ya go, I have no idea if any of them are good, but it seems like you have enough squash to try a few recipes! Here is the link: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-roundup/eight-things-to-do-with-a-butternut-squash-recipe-roundup-128579
    Happy Cooking! Thanks for loving on Kate, Jess.ReplyCancel