Creating a Menu: July 27

I have one main goal in the summertime: Keep cool. The first way I accomplish this is to take my kids swimming in the morning and stay in our wet swimsuits all day. Yes, all day. Believe it or not, even my 80 degree house feels cool when I'm wet.

The next way is to avoid using my kitchen. My kitchen easily becomes the hottest room in the house. It's the farthest from the AC and it's got lots of windows and lots of action. So I try not to cook in it. I do this by grilling a lot, using the crockpot, and make sandwiches.

So this week's menu is:

Monday
Grilled Cornish hens with green beans and cornbread (all on the grill)

Tuesday
Leftovers

Wednesday
vegetable soup (crockpot) with chicken salad pita sandwiches

Thursday
baked beans (crockpot) with Turkey and swiss sandwiches

Friday
Turkey, apple, and brie sandwiches with leftover soup and beans

Saturday
Almond butter, honey, and banana pitas with turkey wild rice soup (crockpot)

Sunday
Turkey-presto wraps with leftover soup

How do you beat the heat?

Tastefully,

Tamara 

Cream cheese and Butternut Squash soup

Sometimes, you need a crockpot meal. This soup makes quick and easy work of a butternut squash. Make sure you have a large enough one or your soup will be too strong.

Ingredients:

2 T butter

1/2 C chopped onion

1 (2 lb.) butternut squash

3 C water

1/2 t marjoram

1/4 t black pepper

1/8 t cayenne pepper

4 chicken-flavor bouillon cubes

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, cubed

Peel and cube the butternut squash, scraping out and discarding the seeds.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion. Cook until tender, stirring occasionally.

Combine onion and all remaining ingredients except the cream cheese in a slow-cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Remove the contents to a blender in batches and process until smooth. Return mixture to slow-cooker.

Add the cream cheese. Cover; cook on low an additional 30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Stir with a wire whisk until smooth.

Pour into bowls and serve with bread or crackers!

Tastefully,

Tamara