Guest Post: Butternut Squash Gnocchi Sauce

Here's a guest post from my fabulous blogger friend Elsie over at Richly Rooted. We met each other while studying abroad in Oxford four years ago and we were even in a dinner group together! I am so excited that we are blogger friends now and I get to keep up with all of the healthy, inspiring meals, series and ideas that Elsie comes up with.

Back in August, Grace shared these fabulous Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts on my blog, Richly Rooted.

Since tomatoes are an iconic produce pick for August, I thought I'd share a recipe that showcases a fall favorite: squash!

Thinking Fruitful: Gift Giving

Today I'm beginning a new series "thinking fruitful" that will hopefully inspire you to look at things through a new lens and give you ideas to make the every day things shine! Today, we tackle gift giving.

Guess what season it is?

Yes, it's apple season, but also gift season!

Simple Saturday: Easy Pie Crust

About a year ago, I made a few sub-par homemade pie crusts and I just stopped making pies and quiches until a few weeks ago.

I knew I could buy a pre-made crust from the store, but I just felt like I was letting myself down.

My mom is like the pie queen and could make a crust in her sleep and I really thought I would inherit some of that magic.

Fruitful Travels: War Eagle Mill

We have a picture from about 15 years ago of my mom and my two sisters and me standing smiling on a bridge in front of a mill in Northwest Arkansas.

After living in NWA for the past 7 years, I finally got a chance to return to this place: War Eagle Mill.

We picked a nice fall day while the leaves were changing to their deep oranges, fiery reds and brightening yellows to drive to visit this historic mill.

Arkansas Black Apples

I've gotten really excited about apples lately.

For the past few months, when I go to the farmer's market the apple stand is one of the first places I go.

And I love hearing about the different types (when I'm not too scared to ask) and mixing it up each week and experiencing new tastes and crisp flavors.

Simple Saturday: Mexican Leftovers

I bet you have your favorite Mexican restaurant.

And when you go there, you have your favorite item with your favorite flavors and you pair it with chips and zesty salsa and maybe some glue-like but delicious cheese dip.

If you don't have your favorite place, you are in need of one!

Your Favorite Chili

Today we're talking chili, and I'm taking it pretty seriously.

Most people I know have a very specific chili preference. Sure we may like to walk down a chili buffet line at a cook off and get a taste dozens of varieties.

But I'm pretty sure that all of us deep down have a favorite chili and that chili probably has something to do with what type of chili we grew up eating.

Random Acts of Foodness

Here's this week's dose of good news about food.

• We're in the last few days of Fair Trade Month. Here are 5 sweet ways to support and keep up with fashion fair trade companies by reading Grace's Fair Trade Friday updates on her blog.
• Speaking of fair trade, we just discovered Wild Ophelia chocolates this week. I like their business ethics just as much as I like their Peanut Butter and Banana milk chocolate bar.
• This doesn't necessarily have to do with food, but I got to hear the founder of LOVE146 speak at my church yesterday and they have an incredible mission to end child trafficking. Maybe you would like to get involved. 
• In need of a last-minute pumpkin for Halloween this week? Modern Farmer offers 7 tips for finding the best one!
• If you're a Northwest Arkansas-er, you have got to get a hold of a copy of the brand new edible Ozarkansas magazine. It's full of beautiful pages of local food news, recipes and features. Get a peek inside the mag from Lyndi.
• Here are some Halloween-inspired dishes to start your festive week out.

Are you planning on making any special treats for Halloween? I think I'm going to whip up some of this Hot Cocoa Popcorn.

Simple Saturday: Indoor S'mores

Last week whilst celebrating my husband and my 1.5-year wedding anniversary, we came up with a genius plan.

A plan to make Indoor S'mores.

It was rainy, cold and dark by dessert time, so I knew that I had to find a way to get some marshmallows perfectly toasted and crammed in between dark chocolate and graham crackers without a fire pit or outdoor flame.

And I turned to my wonderful little toaster oven (which oddly enough my husband bought me when we were dating after my old one sparked and bit the dust).

A Day Off

 
A few weeks ago I got the privilege of having to take a day off of work.

It was my last day to use my last personal day before it disappeared, so I put the day off on the calendar and started planning/fighting the urge to plan a million things to do with my free time.

It was such a nice day to sleep in until 9, wear my pajamas for longer than I should and basically get a jump on life things.

Sugar and Spice and Eye Sight

My grandmother always told me to eat my carrots so I would have good eye sight.

And I gulped down my mom's tender, savory carrots in our Sunday roast and hoped that I wouldn't be like everyone else in my family and have to get glasses.

And then in seventh grade, I took the vision test that we all had to take and completely failed. I remember telling the eye test giver that I couldn't see anything!

I was distraught that I would have to get glasses...even in the midst of having eaten my carrots all my life.

Simple Saturday: Seasonal Salad

Sorry if I got a little crazy with the alliteration in the title of this post.

I love words...what can I say.

I'm really excited about this salad (and you should be, too) because it's full of health, uses seasonally tasty ingredients and can be thrown together in a matter of minutes. It also got the thumbs up at my community group!

Curly kale has become one of my favorite raw greens because it keeps its crunch and texture fabulously even after being dressed and sitting for awhile.

Tailgating Treat

Tailgating is not really in my vocabulary.

In the midst of living in the most football-crazed part of a state that worships the pigskin and the hog (aka Razorback), I live basically oblivious to football.

You see, I live in the same city as the University of Arkansas and while most people plan their yearly calendars by the football schedule, I don't even know there's a game until I'm stuck in horrible traffic while trying to grocery shop on Saturday afternoon.

Random Acts of Foodness

Here's another round of Random Acts of Foodness (aka good news about food) to start your week out on a positive, tasty note.

• Mellow Mushrooms in the NWA area are doing some cool things to help people out in the community (like hosting charity events and donating to the fight against hunger). Follow their Facebook Page to stay updated. 

• Heard about the Kitchn Cure 2013 and sad you missed out on this incredible organizing opportunity? Catch up on the 10 days of assignments here and you're on your way to a cleaner, happier kitchen.

• I can hear my grandmother saying "waste not, want not" right now.

• Some interesting insight into the international trail that our sugar consumption leaves.

• Although I didn't get to attend, I'm glad people in the community got to contribute to Apple Seeds Seeds that Feed sale!

Simple Saturday: My Farmers Market

One of the best parts of my week is Saturday morning.

And not because I'm in my pj's, sleeping in.

It's because I'm waking up around 8 or so (which I know to some of you is sleeping in, but I still consider it getting up). I make my hair look presentable, or mildly so, throw on some clothes (usually of the exercise variety) and say goodbye to my husband as I head out the door on my way to...the farmers market!