Illuminations

"Fall is coming!" and happily, too. Count this Northern girl glad. You may know (or not) that Autumn is my favorite season, because I've written about it before. Actually, each season in the Northeast is a revelation that gives us something to look forward to, but that's a story for another day.

Chicken with butternut squash

Chicken breast in the fridge needed cooking, and since squash is now delightfully in season (early), I also had a small butternut squash cooling in my crisper. The season is running ahead this year because of warmer temps and lots of rain, so typically autumnal vegetables are in stores right now at their peak.

I never cubed a squash before because I typically roast them in an oven, but since it's the height of summer heat, oven cooking is out. I found that partially cooking the squash in a microwave for about 10 minutes softened it enough that I could cut away the peel with some elbow grease. I read online about peeling a fresh squash, but that seemed like a pipe dream with a vegetable as hard and tough as this.

After that prep chore, the ingredients basically combined themselves in a pan with seasonings: diced onions sauteed in oil with thyme and rosemary, seasoned with salt and pepper (you should always season your food) then I tossed in the cubed chicken and squash for the finish. Wonderfully delicious! It was a taste revelation for me, a brand new experience created because of the combination.

Wish you were here....