Let’s

My Houzz: A Midcentury Home’s Remodel Lets a Family Breathe (41 photos)

December 30, 2016 by Robert Morris

After living in seven houses in just 11 years, Peggi Fu, an executive director at a nonprofit, and husband John, an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, had a mighty list of likes and dislikes from each of those experiences. The home they found after moving to Seattle didn’t check all the boxes. But, Peggi…

Houzz

This Recipe Lets You Keep Your New Year’s Resolution and Have Mac and Cheese Too

December 15, 2016 by Robert Morris

Image Source: Andrew Scrivani

Clinton Kelly made this lightened-up squash mac and cheese, and the internet went wild. It’s easy to understand why: people can’t ever get enough mac and cheese, especially when it’s less indulgent, and butternut squash macaroni and cheese in general has exploded on Pinterest. You get all the creaminess and color from the butternut squash, minus all the “bad” stuff.

One thing to note: I know it sounds scary cooking squash in milk, but I’ve done a similar technique with mashed potatoes. It’s very ingenious! Basically, none of the squash flavor is lost by doing so, and there’s no draining involved. You could even use an immersion blender right in the pot if you don’t want to transfer the mixture into a blender.

Image Source: Lorenzo Bevilaqua / ABC

Lightened-Up Squash Mac and Cheese

From The Chew Approved

Notes

This is one of the most popular dishes that I have ever made on The Chew. I think (1) because people love mac and cheese, and (2) they are always looking for ways to eat their favorite indulgent and comforting dishes without consuming all of the calories. My lightened-up version has half of the calories of a classic mac and cheese and is even more flavorful. The texture that you get from the butternut squash is creamy and velvety smooth, so you don’t have to add as much cheese to the pasta to get the same results as the more caloric version. Try it, I promise you won’t be disappointed – and as you know, it’s always bathing suit season somewhere!

Ingredients

3 cups butternut squash, cubed
1 1/4 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons fat-free Greek yogurt
1 cup shredded gruyère cheese
1 cup grated parmesan
1 pound cavatappi pasta
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup Italian-seasoned panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add butternut squash, stock, milk, and garlic. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer until the squash is tender, about 20 minutes.
Remove from heat, cool slightly, and add to a blender. Add in the Greek yogurt and season with salt and pepper. Blend starting on low and slowly increase the speed, being careful to avoid splatters. Blend until smooth and then add in the gruyére and parmigianino. Blend again until combined and cheese is melted. Pour into a large mixing bowl and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the cavatappi according to the package instructions. When pasta is done, drain and add it directly to the cheesy squash mixture.
Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add panko and cook until golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Spoon the mac and cheese into bowls and sprinkle with the toasted panko. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Source: From THE CHEW: APPROVED with permission from Disney Publishing Worldwide.

Information

Category: Pasta, Main Dishes
Cuisine: North American
Yield: Serves 8
Cook Time: 30 minutes

POPSUGAR Food

Forget the PSL! Let’s Talk About Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

October 21, 2016 by Robert Morris

Take pumpkin, pair it with chocolate chip cookies, and there’s no doubt it’s a winning dessert recipe.

Using an ice cream scooper ensures each cookie is the perfect pillowy shape and size.

Leave sufficient space between each cookie dough ball, because the dough will spread when baking.

These cookies have plenty of warming spices, like cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger, which will waft throughout the kitchen even hours after baking.

Muffin-like and semisweet, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies double as dessert and an excellent breakfast the next morning.

From Sabrina Eldredge, POPSUGAR Food

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon clove
Pinch ground ginger
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
1-2 cups chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line 2 cookie sheets with Silpats or pieces of parchment paper.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger together, and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium-high until creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in brown sugar and sugar until sugar begins to dissolves and mixture appears smooth. Add egg, followed by vanilla extract, and beat until incorporated. Turn down mixer to low. Slowly beat in flour mixture and pumpkin in alternate batches until dough forms. Be careful not to overmix or pumpkin will become gummy. Fold in chocolate chips.
Use an ice cream scooper to drop rounded spoonfuls of cookie dough onto baking sheets.
Bake for 15-17 minutes or until edges start to brown. Remove from oven, and let sit on hot baking sheet for 2 more minutes. Move cookies to wire rack to cool completely.

Information

Category: Desserts
Yield: 22-24 cookies

POPSUGAR Food