It’s always hard to get back into cooking after vacation, but I did succeed in making a full dinner tonight. Actually, it was a double dinner, since I brought a meal to a local family in need as well. That was really my motivation for cooking — someone else was depending on me.
At about 3:30 AM on Friday morning, February 26 we lost our electrical service during a heavy, long-lasting snow storm. And we have been without power — or heat — since then, until 4:30 PM yesterday. That’s four days of no utilities in the middle of winter. We spent Friday night in the house, sleeping around our fireplace, but then had to jump ship and go to J.’s parents. It was just too cold. I’m back now, in my warm house with every convenience around me, and a very big smile on my face. Look for a meal plan posting later today.
To prep a butternut squash, I cut off the neck with a large chef’s knife, and use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin. Then I go back to the bulb part, cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, and peel the outside as well. Afterward I hack the whole thing into bite-sized pieces.
Today when I stepped away to the garbage can to peel the neck of the squash, moisture (sugar? it was sticky) started seeping out of the other cut piece, leaving dewy droplets all around the edge. I thought it was really beautiful.
I'm Dara, the Chick in the Kitchen. Living in the suburbs of Manhattan with my two school-aged boys and husband. Feeding my family something more diverse than a different shape of pasta each night. Read more about me and CITK, and keep in touch:
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Moroccan Chicken Tajine: I recently had a chicken tajine dish at Fig & Olive in Scarsdale, and wanted to recreate something similar at home. This is an Ina Garten recipe, and she never fails me.
I'm Dara, the Chick in the Kitchen. Living in the suburbs of Manhattan with my two school-aged boys and husband. Feeding my family something more diverse than a different shape of pasta each night. Read more 
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