I’m continuing my fall kick with a great recipe that is tasty, easy, healthy, and will impress your guests. Brown Sugar Squash Bowls (From the Kitchen of Michelle Charles) (Serves 6)Prep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 35 minutesLevel: Easy Ingredients:3 Acorn squash (halved and deseeded)1/2 cup brown sugar3 tbs butter or light butter1/2 teaspoon salt Directions:– Pre-heat oven to 350 F.– Place water in the bottom of a shallow, glass 9×12 baking dish (about the length of your fingertip).– Place the…
Grown-Up Apple Tasting Party
We’ve all heard of wine and cheese parties, but to celebrate Autumn, how about bringing friends together for an Apple tasting party? I grew up loving a few different kinds of apples my parents always picked up from the store (for my dad it was Red Delicious; my mom loves Granny Smith.) But alas, I haven’t been exposed to the hundreds of crispy, sweet, and sour types that 1) aren’t so main stream and 2) weren’t even available until a…
FALLing in Love With my Favorite Season
I was walking past Hallmark on the way to the grocery and had to stop in. I’m a sucker for cards, so I picked up a few (you can never have too many). But what drew me in were all of the wonderful Halloween and fall accessories. The popularity of Halloween decorations and gifts has exploded in the past few years. Hallmark has now expanded from Easter trees to Halloween trees with collectible ornaments. They’ve perfected making plastic gourds, Indian…
Reality TV: Motivation Beyond the Biggest Loser?
For a while, I tried to fight watching reality television. This was due to the instant, undeserving fame these people get from the tabloids (Speidi, anyone)? Bad memories of Omarosa making the front cover of one of the weeklies because it was her “implant tell all” kept coming to mind. Alas, I gave in and tuned in, but I’m doing it for a good cause. I tape the episodes the night before and then watch them to help me through…
Aging! Are You Embracing or Dreading?
Dear Countesses I recently asked my 21-year-old sister what she wanted to do as a career. She had just received her cosmetology license and was looking for apprenticeships. She was also tossing around the idea of going back to school to do something in the marketing field. “What do YOU want to do?” I asked. “Not what mom, dad, or your friends want you to do.” She replied with, “I want a job where people look up to me and…
