Monday, January 19, 2009

Root Vegetables

So last night we had the soup. It was fantastic! We altered it just a little, not putting IN bacon (we used it like a condiment) and putting sour cream in during the blending process, We served it with home made bread, and stuff to sprinkle on the soup. Oh yeah, we also didn't use turnips. The store was inexplicably out of turnips. They had beets, and rutabagas, potatoes and other root veggies. Just no turnips. Either way the soup was great! Mama Bird loved it and My stepfather had THREE helpings!
We had a bit of a heat wave here, we got up to double digits! Woo-hoo! I still need to get new earmuffs. I have learned the beauty of polar fleece. It's warm. Especially if you wear multiple layers of the stuff. Sure, it makes you look like you've gained 50 pounds, but you're warm. And if you're just running errands, who cares?
I am also in the process of thinning out my kitchen. No, I am not getting rid of new and fun appliances. I am getting rid of old and rarely used glasses. And some vases I have multiples of. Oh, and the counter top dishwasher that no longer fits the faucet on my sink. If I give away or dispose of these items, I might have room for the new toys. And for MORE new toys in the future. Like the bread maker. And the stand mixer.
Here is a great winter/fall recipe to keep you warm.

Roasted Root Vegetables
serves 6

1 2&1/2 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 &1/2 lb Yukon gold potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 bunch beets, trimmed and scrubbed, not peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium sized red onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 head of garlic, cloves separated and peeled
2 Tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Oil two large rimmed baking sheets. Combine all ingredients in a very large bowl; toss to coat with olive oil. Divide vegetables between the two prepared cooking sheets; spread evenly. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast vegetables until tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
What do you know? Turns out I DID have a vegan friendly recipe after all!

--Little Bird is making room

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't suggest that a failblog party be at anyone's home. That strikes me as less than safe. I was thinking more along the lines as a get together at a bar or park. I WOULD suggest Chicago in the summer at Millennium Park for that!!
And there's nothing short of surgery to be done for my tumors. And that isn't even 100% effective. I was born with neurofibromatosis. It takes too long to explain, so look it up.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Curt reply. I'm just trying to help in the only ways I know. Truly.

If surgeries only kind of help, maybe an alternative modality would help.

No worries, I shant bother you again.

Dave

Anonymous said...

Shit. That's not what I meant.
As per the tumor thing, it's hard for me to explain, so I try to send people to a site that CAN explain it. I've lived with it my whole life, how do you explain something like that? To a general public that doesn't even know what it IS?
As per the failblog meet up. Speaking as a woman it's safer to meet people you've never really met on some kind of neutral ground. Also a public location allows for the group to be larger, and more inclusive.
I was not trying to be curt, succinct maybe, but not curt.

Anonymous said...

Avis, I understand your chagrin when it comes to explaining an illness. My wife has had Insulin Dependant Diabetes since age 2 and she also has a Gluten Intolerance. My 22 yr old Daughter has Juvenile Dermatomyositis and Fibromyalgia. Oh boy gee, is it fun explaining anything about all of that to the average person? Exactly NOPE!

As far as get togethers go: Years ago, when AOL was very popular and there were "City Rooms" (where people from an area could chat) there were many AOL Parties.

There one here was held Bi-Monthly or so, in an otherwise "dead" bar in a local Motel. It was a huge place with a a decent music system, but was out of style/favor at the time. Everyone paid a small $3 cover for the motel to open up the dance floor area and for the one man band guy.

Everyone wore Name Tags with their Screen Name from AOL and made friends as anonymously as desired. A good time was had by all mostly, and some nights there were a few motel rooms rented. Sometimes there were announcements of dating, engagements, etc.

Anonymous said...

As much fun as it would be to have all those folks for a meet up... Bondfan is JUST 15 and lives in London, Loufail lives in Spain (I think) and Christopher is in the sandbox (again, I think). And there are those who live in Canada. Also, some of those folks don't get along so well. But I do agree, it would be hellufun!
As for the tumors, well, it's a lot more complicated than that. A lot. I don't have the words to describe just how complicated. Give me the time to try and find them.

Anonymous said...

Oh Hai Avis!

*wink*

Please quit trying to "cook" me! I'm kinda scrawny and tough anyway, bare a meal. That's a cool Dragon Steamer and all, but I have a jacuzzi.

I'll be on the lookout for an Orange Bread Maker for ya. If no luck, we can always get some of that plastic paint and make it orange, it's not hard to do. With the right stuff you can make anything orange!

It's been fun sparring on FAIL Blog with you recently, you're always a hoot! Thanks for all the cookies, you're a Sweet Lil' Bird.

Have an Orange Day, SB

Anonymous said...

I'm going to steal this recipe and claim it as my own. Ah... Christopher's root vegetables. Yep, no plagarism or pastryism here, Nosiree.

As for your neurofibromatosis, I have a friend who had such a hard time in school because she has that too. They recently put her on pegylated interferon a few years ago, and it seems to have helped.

And no, I'm not in the sandbox, so if a Failblog event were to become a reality, I could certainly make an appearance. Especially for a certain little birdie.