I love to cook and have been challenging myself to cook more Weight Watcher friends foods that really taste good. Every week I choose new recipes to try out. Tonight was one that we’ve had before. I love this recipe. It’s so simple, easy, healthy… and best of all tasty.

Sam, here’s the recipe… enjoy!

Ingredients

2 spray(s) cooking spray
20 oz butternut squash, fresh, peeled and cubed*
1/8 tsp table salt, for cooking pasta
12 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta, penne
1 1/4 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
2 Tbsp white all-purpose flour
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
1 Tbsp thyme, fresh, chopped, divided
1/2 cup(s) part-skim ricotta cheese
1/3 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano recommended
1/4 cup(s) chopped walnuts, toasted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Coat a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.

Place squash on prepared baking sheet; roast until tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Place in a large bowl and mash.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. After squash has been roasting for about 10 minutes, cook pasta according to package directions; drain and return to pot.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, flour, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking frequently; reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in mashed squash and 2 1/2 teaspoons of thyme. Add sauce to pasta; toss to mix and coat

Transfer pasta mixture to prepared baking dish; dot with spoonfuls of ricotta and then sprinkle with Parmesan and walnuts. Bake until top is lightly browned in a few spots, about 15 to 20 minutes; remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of thyme. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Tony and Eric,

Wednesday night Eric and I went downtown to listen to Anthony Bourdain share some excerpts from his new book and have a wonderful dinner with the guy. The book reading wasn’t supposed to start about 6pm but we got there early because it was highly suggested we did. We had also decided to take the Max downtown so we could enjoy ourselves and not worry about how we would get home. We got to The Heathman about 5pm and you would have thought the reading was starting in just a few minutes because there was a ton and a half of people. The only spot available to actually site was what we thought not such a choice seat because there was this round seating in the way so you couldn’t see the piano and we figured since the books were over there that he’d be reading from there. We were pleasantly surprised when Anthony cam out an hour later, stood on the stairs, where EVERYONE, could see him and shared some excerpts from his book. Man the guy is so funny and just cuts to the quick on a lot of things. We all laughed and enjoyed what he chose to share. He then opened it up to questions from the audience. I thought that was great as people got to ask him things and he took the time to really answer them. Eric even got the opportunity to ask him a question. Eric asked him, What was the worst thing he had to do on the TV show? Anthony replied with, the massage in Russia and eating warthog.We all had a laugh at that one. I was pleasantly surprised that Anthony answered questions for so long. After the question period they had people form two lines so he could sign their books. I went around to where he was signing so Id be ready when Eric cam in to take the picture. It took FOREVER for Eric to get up in the line to have his booked signed. Finally he did though and Anthony was very accommodating. I couldn’t help thinking as I was standing there waiting for Eric how Tony must feel. I mean there were all sorts of people asking him to stand up, turn around, and look this way to take his picture. That had to get on his nerves but he was accommodating to people. It made me think how we treat popular people almost like an object, rather than a person. Not necessarily a good thing.

So after Eric got his book signed we headed upstairs to be seated for dinner. I really liked the way they did that too. I had assumed when I made the reservations and said two people wed sit at a table for two but they had round tables and sat any where from 8-12 people at a table. It was really neat because we got to meet some other people that I wouldn’t have known. There were two friends there, Stephanie and Jonna (yeah, I met another Jonna, thats only the second one Ive ever met).that were so nice. We all talked wine, food, and places to go in Portland. It was nice to sit with great people and talk about the things we all liked. We exchanged information so we could all get together, Eric and I, Stephanie, Jonna and their husbands, for a wonderful dinner. There was another couple that was transplants from northern New York state. They were nice too but the wife, I thought, was a little full of herself. The last couple was a husband and wife from Portland and their little 5 month old baby. Man that baby was cute and surprisingly quiet. We all sat and talked and had wonderful wine all night. The best part was when the dinner came. I had all sorts of things Id never heard of before or had. First up was a crostinis with rabbit liver and some sauce on it. It was so yummy. I wanted another one. I thought what a tease to just give me one. Wheres the plate of them. Of course I was totally hungry too. Next up was a salad with lamb tongue, onions and lettuce. It was interesting to see how it was presented. Basically it was one BIG leaf of butter lettuce, the lamb tongue, Walla Walla onions and then the sauce. I dont know what I expected with tongue but it was good. Id never had that sort of thing before and the thought of eating some animals tongue didn’t really excite me but I had to go with the flow and at least try. Dang, it was good. Nice and tasty, yummy goodness. I could have eaten a couple of those. The main course was lamb with white beans under the lamb. Again, very yummy. There was quite a bit there so I wasn’t going to starve. Oh, and I think about this time we hit bottle number two of the red wine we were drinking. It was so nice to sit there with people we didn’t know and just talk about all sorts of things. I really liked that idea. I learned about some great places to go eat, great tips and tricks with food. It was cool too that people were really talking about wine and the perceptions that some people have that you have to spend a lot of money for a good wine, or how some people are wine snobs and theres really not room for those people. Wine should be enjoyed and be part of a great meal with out pretense. I love these people. Dessert was a floating island. Id never really had one of those before, lots of meringue and a little custard beneath it but nothing to write home about. I would have preferred something else, of course something chocolate or cheesecake or something.

It was neat too that while we were eating Anthony Bourdain came by and sat with us for a while to just shoot the BS. I was so impressed; hes really like just what you see on TV. It was funny too because after he’d sat with us and moved on to another table he came back by and Stephanie jumped up and asked for a hug, and got one… oh and a kiss. It was so cute and funny at the same time. Stephanie and Jonna really got giddy just being around Tony. All in all the evening was FANTASTIC!!! I would highly recommend that sort of thing to anyone. I’m thinking I need to sign Eric and me up for another one sometime soon, if theres another author coming soon. It was so nice to be around other foodies and enjoy the whole experience.

Awesome night… Wonderful food… Great chat.. Super pictures… more tomorrow when I’m not wiped out.

Ok, tell me how this sounds. It’s from http://www.extramsg.com/

Culinary “Bad Boy” Anthony Bourdain Appears at the Heathman

Anthony Bourdain will regale diners with tales from his new book, The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Useable Trim, Scraps and Bones on Wednesday, June 14 with a free book signing and talk (co-sponsored with Powell’s Books) from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Heathman Restaurant (1001 SW Broadway) followed by a three-course French Bistro dinner at 7:30 p.m. prepared by executive chef Philippe Boulot and inspired by recipes from Les Halles. The dinner is $45 per person and does not include beverages or copies of the book. Anthony Bourdain is the author of seven books, including the restaurant exposé Kitchen Confidential and A Cook’s Tour. He is the host of No Reservations on the Discovery Channel and the executive chef at Les Halles in New York City.

So what did I do. Made the reservation and we’re going to meet “Tony”. I thought Eric would love it. Anthony is his favorite food writer.

It’s only Tuesday and already this week is shaping up to be a little nuts. Eric started school this week which means he’s in class most nights 6-10pm. He’s also working part-time not so Tuesday’s he’s at work and then off to school and then home. This last weekend he worked 20 hours in three days. He worked Friday, half of Saturday and all Sunday. SO in the last oh… four days we’ve seen each other about half as much as we usually do. That can be go and that can be bad. I haven’t figured out which yet.

What I have realized is that when it comes to dinner we’re in the “fend for yourself” mode. Which means, by the time I get home, Eric’s gone to school and there’s no dinner. Waiting for him means waiting until 10pm which isn’t a good idea either so. We fend for ourselves. I’m actually thinking of improving my casserole recipe selection so that a casserole can go in the oven and get cooked so Eric can have an early dinner, then I get home and have my dinner. It’s only the first week but I’m sure we’ll figure this out. I know Eric feels a lot better about what he’s doing and has a sense of accomplishment so that’s good.

Eric’s working most weekends so that doesn’t give us much of an opportunity to visit family or friends on the weekends any more, at least for the next two months since the schedule is out. I suppose that’s not that big of a deal anyway since we don’t have many plans. My annual trip to the Washington Scrapbook convention is a no go and that’s about the only thing I had planned from now until Thanksgiving when everyone will be down here anyway. I suppose it’s a good thing to because it saves on gas besides, where would I go visit? Othello? My mom wouldn’t know what to do if I saw her more than a few times a year, besides she’s got school and all that stuff going on. SO we’re pretty much tied to Portland for a while…SO if you want to see us I guess you’ll have to come down here, or I can come visit you but for the most part, Eric works the weekends.

Time for dinner… mmmmm mac n cheese…at least Eric can’t taint this batch with his “improvements”