Butternut Squash Casserole

I try and make a casserole every week for a weekday meal. My son loves the sound of the dish and so far we have not had any trouble getting him to eat one.

Yesterday, I didn't have all the ingredients for our regular squash-corn casserole. I tweaked this http://allrecipes.com/recipe/butternut-squash-casserole-2/detail.aspx recipe with what I had at home. And the casserole was super delicious. Much much better than a regular weekday meal.

Noting the recipe down here:
1 Butternut Squash
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
a pinch of salt

1. Pre-heat the oven to 375 F. Line a cookie tray with foil. Cut the butternut squash into two halves, scoop out the seeds. Place the two halves face down on the tray and into the oven for about 45 minutes.

2. In the meantime, in a big bowl mix the following:
. 2 eggs beaten
. 1/4 cup butter melted
. 1 1/2 cups milk
. 1/2 cup sugar
. 1 tsp vanilla extract
. 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
. 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
. a pinch of salt

3. Grease a casserole dish with butter. I used a 9X10.

4. Once the butternut squash is cooked, peel the skin, and mash the rest. After it is relatively cool, mix it in with the rest of the ingredients and pour in the casserole dish.

5. Bake for 45 minutes at 375 F or until its set.

It would be a wonderful side-dish for a holiday meal. It is that festive.

Quinoa Salad with Apples and Pecans

I haven't yet managed to create my own recipes. Got this recipe from a friend's son, and am noting down just so that I don't forget.

Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 tbls olive oil
1 tsp garlic paste
3/4 cup chopped onion
1.5 apples chopped fine
1 bunch parsley - chopped fine
1/4 toasted Pecans (optional)
2-3 tsp Lemon juice
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Rinse the quinoa and let it cook 2 cups of water. Once the water comes to a boil, lower the heat, put a lid on the pot and cook for about 10-15 mins or till the water evaporates.
2. Meanwhile chop the onion, apples, and parsley.
3. In another pot add the olive oil and garlic. After about a minute or so, add the chopped onion. Stir till it is cooked a bit, it should not get brown.
4. Add the chopped apple and stir for a couple of minutes.
5. Add the finely chopped parsley, stir it and turn the heat off.
6. Add quinoa and toasted pecans. Add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Add some lemon juice and serve.