Burnt Fingers, Part II

New Year's resolutions.  Does anyone have them anymore?  I asked around at work, my friends, and family.  No one would fess up to a New Year's resolution.  Is it because everyone around me is perfect and can't come up with any goals to better themselves or the world around them?  I doubt it.  I think maybe people associate a New Year's resolution with failure.  They try several years to lose the weight, quit smoking, save money, be a better friend and on December 31st, they look back at the past year and can't even remember what they set out to accomplish last year or they failed miserably.  So they just say "forget it".  I don't blame them; I've had a few failed resolutions myself.  Or maybe they have a goal but saying it will make them accountable for it, which they would prefer not to be.  

Holt and I brought in the New Year at Bardog Tavern in downtown Memphis

Last year I had one of my more successful resolutions.  I resolved to be more organized.  In the past 12 months I have designed a budget and actually stuck to it, filed all my important documents in a filing box, made a key holder which I (usually) hang my car keys on, and have mini toiletries in clear plastic bags ready to travel on a moments notice.  While that may not sound like a drastic change in my life, I can't tell you how much peace it's brought me.  I have realized peace is a product of organization and thus being organized has become an ongoing goal.  One of the tenets of organization is everything in your home should have a purpose or be meaningful/appealing.  This ugly old lamp has been an eyesore on my desk for months.  While it does have a purpose, I resolved to make it appealing as well.

Old lamp I acquired for free

I get a lot of projects done during hunting season.  Holt works almost every weekend so I get plenty of time to craft.  Saturday morning while drinking my coffee I painted the base of this lamp a brilliant turquoise.  I also recovered the shade with a yard of fabric I picked up on sale a some point and hadn't found a use for yet.

My desk with the painted and recovered lamp.  I love the pop of color.

So if I can stick to a resolution, you can too!  Don't give up on the excitement of new beginnings on January first.  If you did have a resolution and it was health-related, you should probably stop reading now.  I was organizing my food stores last weekend and realized I've got a lot of duck I need to be eating.  I spent all afternoon making a rich and hearty duck gumbo and a loaf of artisan white bread.   

Hank Shaw's Wild Game Gumbo

Cook a half a pound of bacon slowly, remove, and chop.  Sear game meats in bacon fat and remove meat as it browns.

Pepper bacon in the dutch oven

Make your roux with a cup of oil on medium high and whisk in a cup of flour stirring frequently.  Continue to cook the roux until it turns the color of coffee with cream.  You can let it cook until chocolate brown but don't burn it!

Stirring the roux

Also, don't try to photograph your beautiful dark roux because you might burn the crap out of your finger.

Battle wound from the duck gumbo

When the roux is ready, add two minced green peppers, two onions, 6 cloves of garlic, and 6 celery stalks. Cook, stirring often 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Combine 2 tablespoons tomato paste with 1-2 qts stock of your choosing.  Mix a teaspoon black pepper, 2 T sweet paprika, 1 t cayenne, 1 T dried thyme, 1 T dried oregano, 2 T garlic powder, and 1 t celery seed in a separate container.  Add stock and turn heat to high.

Peppers and onions mixed into the rich, dark roux

Add meats, bacon, half of the spice mixture, and a little salt.  Stir and taste.  Continue adding spices and hot sauce until you reach the desired flavor.  Bring to a boil, then drop the heat to a simmer.  Cover and cook at least 90 minutes, but more like 3-4 hours.  Add a pound of sliced okra and cook another 15 minutes.  Add 2 T file powder (if you have it), 2 green onions, and some chopped parsley.  Cook five more minutes then serve over rice.

Duck gumbo served over rice with a slice of homemade artisan bread

As with most things, this gumbo is better after a good night's sleep.  Get the full recipe here!  I realize I didn't go into what my resolution is for 2013, but I promise to get to that next time.  

What a sweet potato can teach you

I've been thinking about Hanukkah a lot lately.  It all started with a sack of sweet potatoes my aunt bought on the side of the road...  

My large family gathered, as we always do, on Thanksgiving for an afternoon feast.  My aunt brought a sack of sweet potatoes that she had bought from a roadside vendor.  After a feast of dressing, ham, turkey, stuffed pork tenderloin, and a spread of delicious sides (including sweet potato casserole), she tried to start handing out the sweet potatoes.  In a family of 15 or so, she figured she could give them all away.  Shockingly, no one wanted to take home the sweet potatoes; instead they filled their cars up with the plentiful leftovers.  My scavenger instincts took hold, and I left with the entire bag.  

A bag of sweet potatoes, sounds like no big deal, right?  Since I cook for one most of the week, and half a sweet potato is plenty for me, these sweet potatoes are lasting forever.  I actually think they might be multiplying in my pantry.  I've had roasted sweet potatoes weeks on end, and I have sweet potato fries coming out of my ears!  I needed to come up with some more creative ways to eat these sweet treats.

4 sweet potatoes, peeled, and chopped using a food processor

Gojee is a neat little app or website that is full of recipes.  The premise of it is to type the food that you're craving into the search engine and it will pull up mouth-watering images of dishes featuring the food.  To come up with some ideas, I searched for sweet potatoes.  Amid the sweet potato pies and casseroles, I found this delicious-looking recipe for Sweet Potato Latkes with Chipotle Sour Cream.  I had never eaten latkes before, although I thought they might be a traditional Jewish dish.  So I spent some time reading up on the significance of latkes in the Jewish faith.  

Sweet potato latkes with chipotle sour cream

In 168 BC, Syrian-Greek soldiers seized Jerusalem's holy second temple.  Shortly after, the emperor Antiochus made the observance of Judaism punishable by death.  He ordered all the Jews to worship Greek gods and erected an altar to Zeus in the Jewish temple.  The Jewish priest Mattathias and his five sons led a rebellion against their Syrian-Greek oppressors.  Using guerilla warfare tactics, the Jews eventually drove the Syrians out of Jerusalem.  To rededicate the holy temple, which had been defiled by the foreign soldiers, the Jews cleansed it, rebuilt the altar, and lit the menorah.  There was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the candles of the menorah burning for one day, but miraculously the oil lasted for 8 nights.  While the specifics of history are debated, Hanukkah (Hebrew for "dedication") is an 8-day festival that commemorates the re-dedication of the holy temple in Jerusalem.  

Latkes are traditionally prepared during Hanukkah because the oil used to fry them is symbolic of the oil that kept the second temple of ancient Israel lit.  Latkes aren't strictly Jewish, in fact, they are found all over. These fried potato pancakes made with flour, eggs, and onions can be served as a savory side, with sour cream or cottage cheese or as a sweet treat, with apple sauce.  In North East England, a variation of the dish is called "tattie fish".  "Tattie" is the local slang for potato and "fish" because the pancakes resemble fried fish.  These can also be flavored with tomato or cheese.   Another variation, in Ireland, is called a "boxty", and Belarus boasts latkes as their national dish.

Latkes, or potato pancakes, frying in oil

                                      

Although it's nearing Christmas time, most people in my neighborhood are celebrating Hanukkah.  My house is smack dab in the middle of an orthodox Jewish neighborhood.  My neighbors strictly observe the Sabbath, and Jewish law prohibits doing any form of work on Saturdays.  Most noticeably, they do not drive, but walk to the synagogue as a family.  According to Jewish law, Hanukkah isn't the most important Jewish holiday, but it is well-known outside of the Jewish faith because of its proximity to Christmas. 

My roommate was making Christmas cookies while I was
preparing the traditional Hanukkah dish

                                          

For the last several years, certain religious groups have been under the impression they are defending their right to free speech and freedom of religion in a "War on Christmas".  It seems as if they are offended that many companies encourage their employees to greet their customers with "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas".  

To support Team Merry Christmas, you can purchase your bumper sticker that says “This is America! And I’m going to say it: Merry Christmas!” or my personal favorite “Merry Christmas! An American tradition”.   …because America was a huge part of the Christmas story, right?  You can buy a rubber bracelet for $2 that says “Just say Merry Christmas”, or you can request your local radio station play the song “Say Merry Christmas”.  The beautiful voices of Carrie Rinderer and The American Christian Life United Choir encourage you to avoid stores that opt for Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.  I especially like the line “If you don’t believe the reasons for my Christmas, then it’s sure okay with me.  Please don’t tell me what to say or what music I can play, after all Christmas is my special day.”  So they don’t want you to dictate what they say, but they want to dictate what you say?  Seems legit.

I personally don’t see the problem with Happy Holidays.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are close together, and it seems like a catch-all phrase to spread cheer.  It also includes those that don’t recognize Christmas.  Perhaps, as a Christian, I should be fighting the good fight in the War on Christmas, but I’m more of the love and accept variety than the dictate and assimilate kind.  In fact, if you're wearing your WWJD bracelet right next to your Say Merry Christmas bracelet, you may want to check out John 10:22-23, where Jesus attends the Hanukkah celebration.

Then came the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.  John 10:22-23

Hey if Hanukkah is good enough for Jesus, it’s cool with me, and I love the latkes.  

So Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah!

These met the approval of my roommates and Holt.  They reminded
me of salmon patties but with a very distinct and savory flavor.

Sweet Potato Latkes with Chipotle Sour Cream

This recipe is from Sandi featured on the Dramatic Pancake Website

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp chipotle sauce
• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 medium yellow onions
• canola oil (or vegetable)
• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp cayenne
• 1 cup chopped cilatro + extra for garnish

Instructions

• For the chipotle sour cream: combine chipotle sauce and sour cream.  Mix well, and set aside in refrigerator
• Heat a splash of oil in saute pan and add onions.  Cook over medium low heat, stirring frequently, for about 25 minutes until onions have caramelized.
• Meanwhile, peel sweet potatoes and shred them in a food processor or with the large holes of a box grater
• Preheat your oven to 200 F.  Put a wire rack on a baking sheet and place in the oven.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs.  Add the grated sweet potato, caramelized onions, and all the remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a large cast iron or other heavy skillet over medium heat.  Working in batches, spoon out about 1/4 cup of the latke mixture into the skillet, pressing lightly with the spatula to form 3-inch rounds. 
• Cook for 3-4 minutes until golden, then flip each latke and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
• Transfer latkes to the rack in the oven while you cook the remaining batter.
• To serve: top latkes with a dollop of chipotle sour cream and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Combating the Hefty Holidays

Are visions of sugar-plums dancing in your head this time of year?  I actually have no idea what sugar-plums are, but it sounds like something I could get onboard with!  It's that time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, right in the thick of the holidays.  We're buying gifts, making travel arrangements, attending holiday parties, and chowing down at work holiday luncheons. There is no shortness of shimmering sugary treats; a scavenger's paradise, right? ...Not exactly

See I'm all about the Christmas spirit: I shop for Christmas gifts year-round, I love decorating, I listen to Christmas music, and I can't wait to go home for the holidays.  I always tear up at the traditional candle-light service on Christmas Eve while the community sings carols and awaits the anniversary of the arrival of the Savior.  It's safe to safe I love the holidays!  

The whimsical tree that fits in the trunk of my car and has
traveled with me to my various homes in the last 6 years.

One thing I don't love though, is my belly shaking like a bowl full of jelly!

I'm all for indulging when the time is right, but with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years so close together, it's hard to keep it under control.  One thing that helps and motivates me is jogging.  It's difficult to fit it in when I refuse to buy a gym membership and it's dark by the time I get home from work.  So to combat the hefty holiday season, I've taken up jogging in the morning before work.  It's dark outside at 6, but there's less traffic and hopefully less seedy folk (I think they sleep late).  My mom has been encouraging of my exercise habits, albeit a bit nervous that I've taken to the darkened streets of Memphis.  She geared me up though:

Channeling my inner Buzz Lightyear with my reflective jogging gear

I now jog with a reflective harness-thing and a Road ID strapped to my tennis shoes.  The Road ID has identifying information and contact numbers, so if I were to fall and forget who I was or my Mom's phone number, I could look at my shoe and figure it out.  Or if the good Samaritan found me seeing stars, they could call my Mom, in Alabama, Holt, in Arkansas, or my brother, in Colorado, none of which would be able to pick me up in less than two hours...super helpful.  Now, not only am I a glow-in-the-dark target for the delinquents of Memphis, but when they take my ipod and sneakers, they'll be able to steal my identity too from my handy-dandy Road ID.  I guess I'll just have to count on them sleeping in.

Everyone knows abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym.  You have to eat right too.  So I have a recipe for you that feels like indulgence but it's actually a trick!  I very much dislike cauliflower so I was reluctant to try this one.  But I caught a head of cauliflower on manager's special, and I already had everything else.  It's hard to pass up four servings of mashed cauliflower for 96 cents (24 cents a piece).  Boy am I glad I went for it.  This was easy and delicious!  I think I liked it better than mashed potatoes.  

I splurged with a little cheese on top of my mashed cauliflower

Mashed Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower

3 T milk

1 T butter

2 T light sour cream

1/4 t garlic salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Separate cauliflower into florets and chop up the core finely 

Bring a cup of water to boil in a pot

Add cauliflower, cover, and reduce heat to medium

Cook cauliflower about 15-20 minutes, until very tender

Drain cauliflower well, the drier the better

Add milk, butter, sour cream, salt and pepper

Mash with a masher until it looks like mashed potatoes or process a food processor (much less time consuming)

Merry Christmas everyone!

A Different Kind of Recipe

His sign says "will work for food".  I don't have a job I can offer him; so I really can't help him...You never know if they're going to use the money for drugs or alcohol...I've read where homeless people make a decent living begging, and some aren't even homeless...It can be dangerous to help them...

These were the excuses that rolled one after the other through my mind when I thought of Bill.  Bill is the one-armed man that lives under the bridge about a mile from my office.  I've seen him plenty of times, but for a reason I cannot fathom, I've never done anything for him.  I even dreaded catching the red light and having to sit in my car just feet away from the scruffy man that uses his one good arm to hold a sign.  

Something shifted in my thoughts yesterday.  These excuses aren't helping me sleep at night anymore, and they sure aren't doing anything for Bill.

As with most things, I have Holt to thank for my new perspective.  We've talked about the one-armed man under the bridge before, but we've very rarely done anything about it.  A couple of days ago, Holt realized he had some spare cash when he was driving by and gave it to the homeless man.  He introduced himself as Bill, shook Holt's hand, thanked him, and sent him off with a "God bless you".  Later, Holt took me to lunch and we stopped at the red light beside Bill and gave him a homeless package.  A homeless package contains a tooth brush and paste, deodorant, energy bars, wet wipes and other helpful items.  My mother assembled the package and keeps one in her car, as well.  As we drove away from Bill, he was getting his tooth paste out to brush his teeth.    

Now I can't stop thinking about Bill.  I thought about how cold he must be last night as I laid in my bed.  I thought about what I could bring him for lunch today.  I thought about how Holt wants to drive the hour and a half to Memphis this weekend just so he can take Bill to church with us.  The truth of the matter is Bill is a son of the Most High, created in the image of God, a brother of Christ, and Jesus in disguise.  

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

(Matthew 25:35-40 ESV)

I don't have a traditional recipe for you because I'm still eating leftovers from Thanksgiving, but I have a different kind of recipe.

What to put in a care package for a homeless person:

Socks, long underwear

Hygiene products: combs, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, tissues, wet wipes, hand sanitizer First aid supplies: antibacterial ointment, band aids

Lightweight snacks: energy bars, a gift card to a restaurant nearby like Subway or McDonalds

Put any combination of these items and anything else you think would be helpful and light-weight in a bag and keep in your car for when you see Jesus under the bridge.

Bill wears shoes size 10.5-11 and size large shirts.  He has a prosthetic arm that he can wear to do work, and he will work for food.

Feathers on the water means casserole in the oven

The alarm sounded and I jumped out of bed with all the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning, not because I was all that excited about the morning's adventure, but mostly out of anxiousness to get ready on time and get to our destination before the sun.  After donning two pair of insulated underwear, thick socks, toe warmers, boots, overalls, two jackets, a neck gator, and a fleece hat, I was dressed for the occasion.  My sleepy companions rummaged around in the darkness making coffee, checking field bags, grabbing decoys, and loading the ATVs.  The caravan pulled out at 4:42 AM, just 12 minutes after schedule.  A twenty minute drive, a bumpy ride on the back of an ATV, and a short walk through the delta mud and we were there.  The flooded timber of the Arkansas delta is a prime duck hunting destination.

I spent the morning hours watching the world around me wake up.  My companions called down dozens of ducks from the pink sky.  We watched them circle, sometimes calling back, and eventually gliding in to rest in the old abandon fishing hole.

Two hunts on opening weekend yielded 39 ducks that were cleaned and distributed to all hunters.  You know the rule, if you kill it, you eat it.  Last year was my first duck season, and I was assured that wild duck was delicious to eat.  I had eaten farm-raised duck in restaurants; when prepared well, it is phenomenal.  Wild duck is drastically different, but not necessarily in a bad way.  Until recently, the only wild duck I had tasted was wrapped in bacon, smothered in cream cheese, and stuffed with jalapenos.  Anything tastes good if you do that to it!  This year, I'm prepared.  I've scouted and tried new recipes and found ways to incorporate duck into my old favorites.  This recipe for Duck and Noodle Casserole is one that I modified from a Duck and Wild Rice Casserole, originally featured in an old Southern Living cookbook.  While the original recipe is delicious, I was out of rice and mushrooms, so I had to be a bit creative.

Duck and Noodle Casserole

Ingredients
4 wild duck breasts, tenderized
1 bay leaf
1 yellow onion
1 bunch green onions
2 cloves garlic, peeled
A sprinkle of herbs/seasoning of choice (I used Herbs de Provence)
Half of a box of pasta
1 can green beans
1/2 cup butter/margarine
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 tbs chopped parsley (fresh or freeze dried)
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Place duck, half of the onion, a bay leaf, two cloves peeled garlic, and herbs/seasoning in a large pot.
2. Add enough water to cover ingredients, and bring to a boil
3. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour or until ducks are tender
4. While the duck cooks, prepare pasta according to package directions
5. Remove ducks from stock, strain stock, and reserve
6. When duck is cool enough to handle, chop into bite size pieces, looking for and removing pellets
7. Drain green beans, reserving liquid
8. Add enough duck broth to green bean liquid to make 1 1/2 cups
9. Chop the other half of the onion and green onions and saute in a skillet with melted butter until tender
10. Add flour, stirring until smooth
11. Add green beans and gradually stir in green bean liquid/broth mixture
12. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly
13. Stir in duck, pasta, milk, and parsley
14. Spoon into a greased shallow casserole dish 
15. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top
16. Cover and bake at 350 for 15 minutes
17. Uncover and bake 5 more minutes 

You can see the recipe for Duck and Wild Rice Casserole here.

A full duck hunter is a happy one!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll!

A Waterfowler's Breakfast

Tomorrow is the day.  Tomorrow marks the end of lazy weekends spent watching college football with Holt, date nights in Midtown, and exercising in the park.  Tomorrow is the end of sleeping late on Saturdays and dragging ourselves to church on Sunday mornings.  There will be no more grocery shopping at our favorite grocer in Memphis or afternoons in the kitchen cooking meals from scratch, not for awhile, at least, because tomorrow is opening day of waterfowl hunting in Arkansas...duck season is in!  

During duck season, I lose Holt to his job, yes, but mostly his passion.  Sure he bundles me up and brings me along, but I can see his unconditional love for for the sport as he successfully calls ducks from the skies to the water.  While unconditional is a strong adjective, I am not exaggerating.  True waterfowlers will be in the blind before daylight when it's snowing outside with a smile on their face; in fact, I've heard snow is the best weather to hunt ducks in!  So while tomorrow may be the end of spending time together in my warm home in Memphis, for awhile, it's the beginning of an age-old tradition of man pursuing beast.  It's the beginning of early mornings, afternoon naps, and relaxing by the fire as the morning's spoils cook on the grill.  It's mud, waders, sunsets, a cocktail, and skies full of ducks.  It's a celebration of nature, our livelihood, and the great migration.    

After spending a morning in the frigid blind, calling, shooting, and retrieving (if you don't have a pup), duck hunters come home hungry.  Here's a quick and easy recipe to warm their rumbling bellies.  It's great for a big group because you can make as many as your muffin tins will hold.

Looks cold, right?

Crispy Ham Cups

Sound familiar?  Yes, we made this recipe at the cooking class a few weeks back.  I was a little doubtful that it would be as easy when I had to do it by myself without all the prepared ingredients in front of me, but it was.  So I'm sharing it with you!
Spray your muffin tin with non-stick spray.  Place your ham slices in the cups.  If you have thin ham, use two pieces.  If you have thick, like mine, use one.  Spoon in creamed spinach.  I bought a box of frozen and warmed it on the stove.  If you're ambitious, or have all the time in the world, you could make your own.

Crack the eggs and pour one into each cup.  Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.  We sprinkled some shredded cheddar on a few of ours, just to use it up.

Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes, watch them closely and take them out when they've reached the desired done-ness, depending on how you like your eggs.  The cheese melted nicely and helped hold the cups together.  Use a butter knife to separate the ham cups from the muffin tin and serve.

Easy, filling, and delicious!
I didn't write a printable version of this recipe because it's so easy (ham, creamed spinach, egg, salt/pepper, oven at 350 till done).  For the next couple of months, most of my recipes will be featuring wild game and waterfowl so grab a gun and a meat tenderizer and meet me back here for some country delicacies! 

A Scavenged Squash

I have accidentally developed a new hobby and acquired a nickname: the scavenger.  It started out innocent enough.  Leftovers from a catered meeting at the office were abandoned in the break room, and I made a lunch out of it.  I went back later and there were still plenty of leftovers.  Hmm, I have a Tupperware in my desk; I could fill it up and have lunch tomorrow too.  Not so crazy, right?  That's two lunches I'm getting for free!  I got a little rush from the money I was saving.

Then, it escalated...no food left unattended is safe.  When people leave food in the break room, I take it without shame.  Once there was a sandwich platter and a "fixings" platter with lettuce and tomato.  All the sandwiches were gone, but I took the lettuce and tomato home and made a salad for dinner.  I've gone a full week without paying for a single lunch through catered meetings and leftovers in the break room.  I wouldn't necessarily call it an obsession but my friends and family have definitely noticed and have dubbed me "The Scavenger".

While I'm grateful that it's not necessary for me to scavenge to stay full, I'm admittedly frugal and it's fun to see how much I can scavenge.  One would think this translates to a lower grocery bill, so I was so excited to compare my grocery bills at the end of the month.  After saving a whopping $12.22 in a month, I was a bit disenchanted with my scavenging hobby.  However, I'm still at it, so guard your food well.

This brings me to a scavenged meal I made for Holt.  This is one of our favorite dishes.  I found the original recipe on Sparkrecipes.com, but I usually mix it up based on what I've got.
A roommate of mine was planning to go out of town for the weekend.  She asked if I wanted her butternut squash.  Umm, duh!  Butternut squash is one of our favorite veggies, and I immediately thought of this recipe.

Spicy Chicken with Dates and Butternut Squash

The "spicy" refers to seasonings, not heat.  We prefer to add a little heat to it, so this time I threw in a chipotle pepper while it was stewing and took it out before serving.  We've also simmered the broth with red pepper flakes then strained the broth to remove the flakes.  You could always just toss in a dash of cayenne or your favorite heat.
If you don't cook often, this recipe may require a bit of a spice investment.  Once you have the spices, they'll last a long time, and then this meal is pretty cheap to make.

You'll need a butternut squash, olive oil, chicken (breast or thigh, I prefer thigh for this meal), an onion, dried pitted dates (also scavenged, from my aunt's house), a bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cumin, coriander, flour, chicken stock, and cilantro.  My coriander disappeared so I used cardamom.  I know that's not a lateral substitution, but it goes with the flavor well.

Peel the squash, cut in half, scrape out the seeds, and chop into chunks.  Drizzle these with EVOO and season with salt and pepper.  Pop them into the oven at 400 for about 30-45 minutes, stirring them half way.  This is a wonderful side dish by itself.  The edges get a little crusty and the inside is sweet, fleshy deliciousness.

While the squash is roasting, cook chicken in 4 tbs EVOO with salt and pepper.  Add onion, 12 chopped dates, spices, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick.  When onion is tender, add 3 tbs flour, and cook another minute.
Add stock (we used a coconut Thai stock this time, but I think I prefer chicken), and bring to a bubble.  Simmer until curry thickens and dates plump (5-6 min).

Remove bay leaf and cinnamon stick.  Stir in roasted squash, sprinkle with cilantro, and serve over rice or couscous.  

Not the prettiest dish, but definitely tasty!

Since I scavenged the squash and dates and already had the spices, this meal cost me an onion and a bag of chicken thighs, which comes out to about a dollar per serving. Here's the printable version of the original recipe:

Spicy Chicken with Dates & Butternut Squash

1 Butternut squash
4 TBS EVOO
2 1/2 lbs Chicken (breast or thigh)
1 lg onion
12 dry pitted dates, coarsely chopped
1 Tbs Cumin
1 Tbs Coriander (powder)
1 bay leaf
1 Cinnamon Stick
3 Tbs Flour
3 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup cilantro roughly chopped

Preheat Oven to 400 F
Cut squash into cubes, place in baking dish, and drizzle EVOO over it. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.  Place in oven for about 30-45 mins, or until tender.
Cook chicken in EVOO with salt & pepper.
Add onions, dates, spices, bay leaf, & cinnamon stick into pan. When onion is tender add flour, cook about 1 min.
Add stock, bring to a bubble. Simmer until curry thickens and dates plump. (5-6 mins)
Remove bay leaf and Cinnamon stick
Stir in roasted squash

Makes 6 servings.