Butternut Squash Fettuccine with Fried Sage

Austin and I have been together a long time.

I don't mean to say that we're going to be winning any awards or setting any records or anything, but Austin's turning 27 today!  We went on our first date when he was 17!

I'm not a math savant or anything, but I'm pretty sure that's 10 years!

One date that I remember in particular was prom, because duh! Who doesn't remember prom?

We went to a nice restaurant on Main Street before heading over to the dance and I got the butternut squash ravioli.  I don't always remember what I eat for each meal, but I remember this because Austin tried a bite and that was literally the first time he realized that vegetables could be sweet!

He's been a big fan ever since.

I like the sweetness of this pasta recipe especially with the contrast of the crunchy, butter fried sage leaves!  And, as Austin says, 'it tastes like candy!' (Happy Birthday!)

365: Week 39

September 22 | Practicing for our first dance.

Happy Hour: An Apple A Day

It's fall now, so it's time for fall-flavored cocktails.  My go-to autumnal ingredient is apple juice.

As soon as you add apple juice to a drink, it instantly becomes appropriate for the cooler weather.  Apple cider means you're really ready for changing colors, vests and scarves.

Tequila?  Not so much.

That's why this drink is kind of an in-between summer and fall drink.  There's some tequila (because, let's be honest, it's still hot - at least in Utah), some apple juice and apple schnapps because we want it to be fall and some homemade ginger syrup just for kicks.

Homemade Beet Orange Pasta

We used to have beets every year at Christmas.  When we'd go up to the farm each December, there they were.  A bowl of beets.  I don't think anyone ate them.

I didn't know it at the time, but apparently they were canned.  And therefore disgusting.

Because of this quite unpleasant experience year after year when my cousins, sisters and I would dare each other to eat one (a whole one!), I always thought that I didn't like beets.

Then, one summer, not too long ago, I had a fresh one!  Game changer for sure!

Beets are amazing!  They taste just like the earth and dirt - in a great way!  Plus, they're bright red/pink which makes them extra fun.

Basically, I used to be an idiot because I thought canned, sweetened beets were the same thing as fresh, roasted beets.  (Now I'm still an idiot, but for different reasons.)

When you make beet pasta, it's really more for the color.  Most of the beet flavor is lost, but there is definitely a hint of that earthiness in there.

Oreo Malted Milkshake

School is back in session.  I know this not because I have kids, but because everyone at the office is sick.

It's the type of sickness that spreads quickly and hits hard like only a schoolyard sickness can do.

Anyway, a food blog is not the place to talk about illnesses, but that did remind me of after school snacks.

We didn't really get after school snacks when I was little (probably because we ate dinner so early), but once I was in middle school, my friend and I would help ourselves to the contents of the pantry and fridge.

We'd serve ourselves big bowls of Kraft macaroni and cheese and follow that with Oreos.

A lot of Oreos.

The 2 of us could easily eat a box in a sitting.

So, it's really not much of a surprise that sometimes I come home from work and make myself a big Oreo Malted Milkshake, sit down on the couch and slurp up the whole thing.

365: Week 38

September 15 | Final stages of wedding planning.

Happy Hour: Ginger Simple Syrup

It's pumpkin spice latte season.  I know.  We all know.

I think shortening it to PSL is a little bonkers personally, but you're free to disagree (and I know many of you will!).

I've only had 1 pumpkin spice latte in my life and - don't hurt me - I wasn't that impressed.  I've never been a huge pumpkin person though.  I don't even like pumpkin pie.

Now that you all hate me, I will tell you about the seasonal Starbucks drink that I do think is the bee's knees: Gingerbread Lattes!

They claim you can only get one during the holidays even though I know they have the ginger syrup year-round.  So if you haven't tried one, you should.

Or better yet, make your own Ginger Simple Syrup and have it whenever you please!  Also, when you make it yourself, no one's going to tell you can't mix it into a seasonal cocktail, just sayin'.