Thankful Thursday January 26, 2023

 As I promised in yesterday's blog post that I would share the     Butternut Squash Gnocci  recipe and so here it is!          Butternut Squash Gnocci

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash about 1.5 pounds equaling 2 cups cooked           2 large eggs beaten, 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper and 1.5 cups flour. I use unbleached all purpose flour and 2 large eggs beaten  1 stick of unsalted butter, 12-18 fresh sage leaves, and grated Parmesan cheese. 

  

Pre-heat oven to 350F, cut in half lengthwise, place the squash on parchment paper with just a bit of olive oiled brushed on squash. Bake for approximately 60 minutes. I usually check after 45 minutes to see if the squash is done. If a fork can easily penetrate it is ready. Let the squash cool enough so that you can handle it easily. Scoop out the seeds and then scoop out all of the squash and place in a mixing bowl. Using a fork smash the squash until it is smooth with no lumps, stir into the squash the 2 eggs. Once that is well mixed stir in the salt and pepper and then the flour.    Once that is done using a large pan such a Dutch Baby and fill with enough water to use for poaching the gnoccis. Bring the salted water to a boil and spooning about a tablespoon or a bit more of the squash mixture and using your fingers scoop it into the boiling water. Continue scooping the mixture in until the pan is full- about 10-15 gnoccis at a time. Once the water is boiling again and the gnoccis rise to to the surface then poach exactly  for 2 minutes and remove them carefully one at time- I use a small strainer. Place the gnoccis on a cooling rack. Continue poaching the rest of the mixture until all gnoccis have been poached. Let them cool and drain. I usually put a folded dish cloth under the rack to keep things tidy. Meanwhile melt the butter in a good size frying pan,  brown it just a bit and add then the fresh sage leaves turning them often until they are crisp but not burnt! Remove them from the pan and once the gnoccis have cooled down and aren't wet- only damp- then place the gnoccis in the pan with the brown butter and turning when they are browned. Once they are browned on both sides, place them in everyone's pasta bowls with the sage leaves and parmesan!

Many many thanks to Brian for Thankful Thursday!

Buon appetito!

           

Wordless Wednesday January 25, 2023

I took these two photos back in March of 2022.

Our good friends who live close by are lucky

to have such a beautiful Camellia in their backyard!

Here's a closeup!

Have a great day always! 

Thanks Sandee!!!

PS My header is of Butternut Squash Gnocci!

I discovered this recipe and I will be sharing

it on Brians Thankful Thursdays  blog!

Awww Monday! January 23, 2023

 

Once again our family is growing!

This little guy is quite the cutie and

he is enjoying his quilt! 

I sure had fun making it too!

Our nieces and nephews are beginning 

to have babies of their own- so now I am not just 

Aunt Kathe....but Aunt Kathe the Great! 

Hahahah. Have a happy and awesome day!

~~~~~ 

Feline Friday! and Friendly Fill-ins! January 20. 2023

Jaguars are the third largest cat in the world — after the tiger and lion — and the biggest in the Americas. They can grow up to 170cm long, not including their impressive tails, but their size can vary a lot between regions depending on the size of the local prey.

Black jaguars live alone, marking their large territories with their scat and by leaving distinctive claw markings on trees. They can kill just about any type of prey they encounter but prefer large animals such as capybaras, alligators, deer and armadillos.

Obviously these cats are NOT pussycats!

However.....

Jaguar populations are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Deforestation and poaching are just a couple of the threats contributing to their decline. The black jaguar’s range once spanned from the southern United States down to the tip of South America. However they have been virtually eliminated from half of their historic range.

Many thanks to MessyMimi who is now hosting Feline Friday! 

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Friendly Fill-ins!

Here are the Friendly Fill-Ins for tomorrow. Ellen of

 15 and Meowing   came up with the first two and her

 co-host, Lorianne of Four-Legged Furballs 

came up with second two.

1. _____________________makes me feel old.

2. ____________________makes me feel young.

3. Recently, _________ came in very handy.

4. I think that _________ is the most useless __

Here are my fill-ins:

1. Looking in the mirror in the early morning makes me feel old.

2. Dancing with my sweet husband makes me feel young.

3. Recently, my saving boxes came in very handy.

4. I think that worrying is the most useless emotion.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Thankful Thursday January 19, 2023

The rain may drive us all a bit bonkers, 

but it is a gift from Mother Nature and

I am thankful for all the rain as it nurtures 

our trees, bushes and flowers along with

giving us water to save and share with the 

birds and assorted mammals that live 

along with us. The deer, birds, squirrels, racoons,

possums and other animals flourish with the water.

Our French friends have taught me about 

saving water in large containers such as 

plastic garbage cans or large buckets.

They have the gutters from the house directly

filling up all the many large containers in their

backyard and over the rainy winter they

harvest so much rain! So much that

in the summer when they are not home I and

the neighbors use buckets of water to care for all 

of the trees, bushes and flowers that need attention. 

What a brilliant idea! We will be doing this also.

It makes total sense! 

Thanks Brian for Thankful Thursday!

~~~~~

 

Wordless Wednesday January 18,2023

Punta Chivato, Baja, Mexico

March 23, 2005

 

Happy Tuesday January 17, 2023

Sleeping in a cozy dog sandwich!

Thanks to Woodsterman !!!

Have a wonderful day- everyday!

~~~~~