On Saturday, I put together another “sensational” crockpot (Company’s Coming: Slow-Cook Dinners is a real crowd-pleaser). Acorn Apple Soup was the recipe. It turned out with a consistency similar to baby food, but smoother on the tastebuds. The perks of Acorn Squash (besides being a wonderful fall harvest veggie) are that it’s an excellent source of dietary fiber and potassium as well as smaller amounts of vitamin C and B, magnesium and magnese. It was fun to cook the acorn seeds, although they totally didn’t last more than 5 minutes in the oven before they started zinging about and popping like popcorn! I served the recipe with cornmeal rolls and cheery crabapple juice! Yum yum! Here it is:

Acorn Apple Soup

2 1/2 lb acorn squash, chopped (about 8 cups), reserving 1/2 cup seeds
4 tart medium cooking apples (such as Granny Smith), peeled and cores removed, chopped
3 cups prepared chicken broth
1 cup chopped peeled potato
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp. finely grated, peeled gingerroot
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. cooking oil
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup reserved acorn squash seeds, rinsed and dried

Combine first 9 ingredients in 5 to 7 quart (5-7 L) slow cooker. Cover. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. Remove and discard bay leaves. Carefully process with hand blender or in a blender until smooth. Makes about 9 cups (2.25 L) soup.

Combine cooking oil and salt in medium bowl. Add squash seeds. Toss until coated. Spread evenly in ungreased shallow pan. Bake in 300F oven for about 20 minutes, stirring or shaking often, until crisp and golden. Divide and ladle soup into 6 individual bowls. Sprinkle each with toasted seeds. Serves 6.

Make ahead: The night before, combine first 9 ingredients in slow cooker liner. Cover. Chill overnight. Seeds may be prepared the night before and stored in a covered bowl. Cook as directed.

PS: It serves 6.

Warning: I pinched a nerve and had a numb index finger from carefully removing the skin from the acorn squash!

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Round two of “Catalogue Katie” is hot and fresh off the press! In number two, I am sporting a grey turtleneck dress, dark grey tights, boots, and an old pearl and metal necklace that my Gramma McNeill gave to me. The idea was stylish warmth. It was a drizzly and damp day in Denver and of course, church is always subzero! I stayed warm-ish… still needed my coat!

This is what you’ve all been waiting for! CATALOGUE KATIE! Let me tell you how this all originated…

Back in Calgary, I got all dressed up for church. It was a cooler day and therefore layering was much endorsed. Nathan came to church with us that day and was quite flattering about my outfit. He called me “Catalogue Katie,” and so it began! I don’t consider myself I religiously stylish person (I say as I sit here in a Conor-sized t-shirt, sweat pants and not showered), however every now and then I do like to get all dressed up. Sundays are my day to look and feel gorgeous. All other days are my days to feel more on the comfortable side. As I document my “style” I hope it doesn’t come off as vain, but instead as fun! Enjoy!

For our date night last night I wore flats, leggings, a jumper and a grey t-shirt!

My newest addition to my library arrived nearly a week ago in the mail. It’s the Homekeeping Handbook by Martha Stewart. I know that Martha spent some time in mod black and white stripes and behind bars, however I just can’t let that mar my opinion of her fantastic skills in the home (or withhold me from them)! This “Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home” is chalked full with everything (and anything) a homemaker should know about her home – large or small! Martha’s 6 things to do every day is a great head-start to a more glorious living space. They are:

1. Make the bed
2. Manage clutter
3. Sort the mail
4. Clean as you cook
5. Wipe up spills while they’re fresh
6. Sweep the kitchen floor

If these things don’t work for you, I have suggestions:

1. Use sleeping bags, two words “zip up”
2. Just toss it
3. Let the mail pile up in the mailbox until the mailman no longer delivers
4. Make your husband clean up after you
5. Get a dog
6. Get a dog

Just kidding!

I really have enjoyed pouring over Martha’s book and essentially her brains. This book is most certainly an encyclopedia and NOT a handbook. Check it out… I got mine off of amazon.com for a steal of a deal! Check it out!