So....I live in Iowa.: Cooking around...

To say that I am in a sad mood today would be an understatement. I know that I am tired and when I am tired, I grow weary very quickly. Things that would not make me sad do, and what would is intensified. I am bone tired. Thankfully, we are putting in Easy Closets in every closet save one in our home, but yesterday, I had to clean out every one. EVERY ONE. Very laborious and tedious. But I choose to look ahead to the finished product and not one how I hope my children are sleeping through the tear out happening so we can go to the Fresh Beat Band tonight.
Adding to the tiredness is the fact that J has been out of town A LOT and last week and this week are no exception. It is hard, but he assures me that this is the end for the year....We shall see, I say.
So last week, on a particularly cool and rainy day, I cooked the most AMAZING stew and Bread Pudding. It was so good that all of my children ate it (except R) and J said that this should become a regular.

Beef and Butternut Squash Stew ( courtesy of Giada ) * found on www.foodnetwork.com

Onion, Rosemary, Thyme Garlic

Add beef dredged in flour, salt and pepper

Add beed broth, butternut squash and sun dried tomatoes.

Let simmer for an hour. SO SO GOOD! and easy and did I say good?

Giada said to serve with crusty bread, but I opted to go southern and pour it over rice.

Super Easy Bread Pudding (recipe courtesy of Paula D) also found on www.foodnetwork.com

I love bread pudding but have never had too much success finding a recipe that I love. Well, I tried again to find one that I liked to use up the stale (ing) Italian loaf that was left over from the weekend. I settled on this particular recipe because it seemed easy (it was) and the ingredients I had on hand (except for the Brandy).

I would make this again, with some exceptions. Paula loves her butter and I could have used half and still had a delicious dish. I also halfed the amount of sugar. Would do that again.. I substituted raisins for pecans and I think that the recipe would be great with both. Lesson learned from Paula...half butter, sugar in her recipes.