Happy Halloween!

This picture slays me!

Are you dressing up? Tell me!

Song of the Day

I hope you do a lot of monster mashing tomorrow! And that your Halloween is a graveyard smash! Ok. I'll stop.

This Day in Positively

Seasons Shmeasons! Or Maybe Not

I never paid much attention to cooking with food that is "in season". If I wanted corn in the middle of February, by golly I was going to have it! Pumpkin bread in May? Don't mind if I do! But now that I'm cooking more often and learning about food, I'm realizing how important seasonal ingredients are to both the taste and the quality of your dish.

There couldn't be a better time than fall to start paying more attention to what is in season. 'Tis the season for loads of good veggies! I made Caramelized Autumn Roasted Vegetables from Food & Wine for my Dining for Women dinner last night. I got a ton of compliments, which, let's face it, is the only reason any of us cook.

Makes 12 servings (Perfect for Thanksgiving!)
Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups pecans
• 4 medium carrots (3/4 pound), peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick on the bias
• 2 large parsnips (1 pound), peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick on the bias
• 1 medium head cauliflower (2 1/2 pounds), cut into 1-inch florets
• 1 small butternut squash (2 pounds)—peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch dice
• 1 pound brussels sprouts, halved
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 425°. Spread the pecans in a pie plate and toast until fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool.
• In a large bowl, toss the carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, squash and brussels sprouts with the olive oil and nutmeg and season generously with salt and black pepper.
• Spread the vegetables on 2 large rimmed baking sheets and roast for 30 minutes, until the vegetables begin to brown. Toss once or twice during the baking time.
• Scatter the pecans and ginger over the vegetables and drizzle with the maple syrup; toss well. Continue to roast the vegetables for 25 minutes longer, until they are tender and golden.
• Scrape the vegetables into a bowl and serve hot or at room temperature.

(Thank you Food and Wine!)

Warning: This dish is not as great reheated, but trust me it, it is so good you won't have leftovers

If you are an in season newbie like me, click here. It will help you find by state, by month what is in season.

Song of Day

Perfect song for today's post! Please enjoy The Byrds' Turn, Turn, Turn.

This Day in Positively

Fun on a Treadmill? When Pigs Fly!

I've mentioned a few times that I'm always on the lookout for new motivation to get to the gym (Here and here), but I've never figured out a way to make it fun. Check out this great video (Thanks Sue!) These geniuses figured out how to make stairs fun. If they could work their magic on a treadmill I would give them $100 and my first born child. Ok, maybe not $100. I'm not rich people!



Song of the Day
You probably saw this coming...Today's song is Billy Joel's Piano Man.

This Day in Positivity

Makes Me Want to Go Grocery Shopping

Michael Buble's Haven't Met You Yet video is super sweet. I'm definitely wearing my dancing shoes next time I need to go buy milk.




This Day is Positively

Song of the Day
Haven't Met You Yet is so catchy! Have a great weekend

Chipwich: Sounds Disgusting

Matt: You sure like Chipwiches, huh?
Me: Well I only started eating them a year ago.
Matt: Really? Why?
Me: I thought they would taste gross.
Matt: I see what you're saying. Ice cream between two cookies does sound disgusting.
Me: Shut it!

I really don't know what I was thinking but I didn't try a chipwich until I was about 26. Now I have dedicated the rest of my life to making up for this egregious mistake.

Give something you've dismissed a try. You may find you like it as much as a chipwich!

Homemade Chipwiches! Totally worth the effort!

Song of the Day
Today's song is U2's Still Haven't Found What I'm Look For for all of you who still haven't found your "chipwiches."

This Day in Positivity