Before I share another crowd-pleasing recipe with you, I want to share some joyful news. 

It’s been almost a year in the making, and it is in the final incubating stage of refinement. Clearly, too long for a human baby announcement, and there’s no elephant-cam watch because they take two years gestation.  

So, what could it be? 

Just as a proud new parent, the Caregiver Series now has another member! Number three in the series is … Toolkit for Caregiver Emotions – What you’re feeling is normal – Discover your coping and resilience skills.  

Here’s the book cover that depicts how we can shelter ourselves from life’s storms to create calm and balance: 

Not only has the cover been created but … drumroll … Toolkit for Caregiver Emotions, is now ready for PREORDER on Amazon! 

As editorial reviews, final formatting, launch team creation, and marketing are completed, I have committed to a publication date of August 2nd – which hopefully, will be changed to an earlier date. 

When you preorder through Amazon eBooks, the sale is charged when the eBook is delivered. Preordering boosts sales; which, in turn, helps the Amazon algorithm make the book more visible to additional shoppers.  

So many people have been asking for this ground-breaking book for caregivers, and I am so happy to bring it to fruition. The frank conversations about emotions, along with the coping and resilience skills I share, are universally applicable – whether you are a caregiver or not. 

With the help of readers placing preorders, the visibility of Toolkit for Caregiver Emotions on Amazon should increase. 

Yes, there will be a print version as well, but preorders are only available for eBooks. 

Stay tuned for more information. 

LET’S TALK VEGGIES!! 

On to squash. Yellow squash, specifically. 

Squash elicits two responses. There’s the, “Yuck!” crowd; and there’s the, “I LOVE YELLOW SQUASH!” crowd.  

Converts to the second group happened after tasting my recipe – just saying. 

Growers of yellow squash delight in learning of any recipe that uses up their bountiful crops. Truly, most cooks already have a favorite yellow squash casserole recipe, but judging from recent comments by dinner party guests, I am sharing my gluten-free version for those who do not. 

A few tips before we get to the specifics: 

Quantities are often difficult to nail down, but this recipe makes enough for a 9” x 13” glass casserole dish. I’ve melded three recipes to get my version, and the range of the number of squashes was significant – also, the size of fresh vegetables can vary greatly. Just relax and enjoy your cooking experience – it will all work out. 

Since the goal of foodtalk4you is an anti-inflammatory cuisine and lifestyle, I have used gluten-free options whenever possible, but there is a dairy element. The French-fried onion rings by French’s, contain gluten; but there is a Kroger brand available that is gluten-free. Alternatively, gluten-free panko crumbs are an option for the topping. 

Our editor, Sheree Alderman, is making this recipe downloadable and printable below. I hope you enjoy it! 

Remember you can subscribe to foodtalk4you by: 

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Thanks! 

In health – 

 Deidre  

Few holidays garner such visceral responses.

Our early childhood saw us delighted with glue, scissors, red paper hearts, and lots of glitter.

Then we might have experienced fewer Valentines in our sacks at school than others, or maybe the ones we were given were not the prettiest of the bunch and amounted to getting the rejects.

Later, we pined for romantic Valentines complete with a hand-holding sweetheart.

No sweetheart? Well, then, we started disliking Valentine’s Day. “Happy Singles Awareness Day” became our slogan. Groan.

“I hate Valentine’s Day” can often be heard. Too bad.

I’ve had my share of being single for this festival of romantic love. It is tough. It does not feel good in the heart.

BUT – we can expand our view of this celebration by making a big deal out of ALL the forms of love we find around us. Honor family love, deep friendships, new friendships, and honor the friendless.

Today, I’m sharing two of my favorite ways of saying, “I love you!” One is a pastime that morphs with the seasons, and another is a special treat. It is my way of giving you something of myself that may brighten your day.

Cards made using Iris Paper Folding

This art form uses the layering concept of a camera’s iris and this heart card is the first one I learned. The finished card’s look is infinitely variable and requires just few supplies and a pattern:

Supplies:

3 sheets of printed craft paper with complementary colors/designs

1 sheet of heavier weight craft paper for the card face plate

Blank card and envelope – 5 inch x 6.5 inch/12.7 cm x 16.5 cm white, ivory, or colored

Scissors are a must and a paper cutter if you have one.

X-ACTO craft knife

Cellophane tape and double-sided tape

Small heart sticker or jewel sticker

Steps

Prepare the papers:

Cut the pink heart frame into a 6-inch x 4.5 inch or 15.24 cm x 11.43 cm rectangle.

Cut your personalized-color fold-able sheets into 3/4 in or 1.91 cm strips using cutter or scissors – you will need 2-3 strips of each color.

Print two copies of the pattern.

Using the crafter’s knife, carefully cut out the heart shape from one pink frame. *Make sure to use something to protect your table surface! I use the thick pressed cardboard found as a backing to packets of square craft paper.

Place and center the heart shape under the pink frame and trace around it’s shape with an erasable pencil.

Using the craft knife, carefully cut out the heart. *Protect your work surface! Save the heart shape for future use on a different kind of card.

Tip: Color your second pattern with highlighters to make placing your three colors/patterns easier.

Put the resulting frame, with heart shape cut out, FACE DOWN over the whole second pattern and secure with a bit of painter’s tape at two corners.

Fold the edge of each paper as shown in the following photo.

Using your first color, cut a piece of the strip a bit longer than the area needed for space #1. The folded edge will go toward the center of the heart. Secure each piece with tape at the end.

Note: I use a piece of tape that’s almost 1-inch long and tear that piece in half. Use these smaller pieces to tape the strips onto the heart’s frame back. Don’t allow any tape to be exposed to what will be the card front.

Continue taping trimmed pieces, following the flow of the pattern 1-2-3-4-5, etc.

NOTE: The point of the heart can get congested with extra paper, so trimming pieces to a point can help with that.

When all pieces have been placed, peel back the painter’s tape for the big reveal!

Next, using the double sided tape, picture frame the BACK of the card you just created. The tape should be placed as near the card’s back edge as possible and go completely around the card.

Fold the blank card stock in half, and carefully center your card over the blank card, lowering to the surface and pressing down all edges.

Select your heart sticker or jewel and place in the center of the iris.

Voila!

Since there were no Christmas cards from me this year, my Valentine’s Day cards will be mailed to family and friends. It’s a gift they will treasure, and each will contain a note of appreciation and love.

Scones that love you back – Still a favorite recipe that is also an excellent way to say, “I love you!” or, “I appreciate you!”

Just download and follow the recipe. What a perfect Valentine’s touch to breakfast on the 14^th – or any day!

Who can you craft a card for? If not a romantic love, there’s someone who needs a special note of caring from you. Who will it be?

Feel free to share the love of this post by using the social medial options under the MORE button below.

In love and health – I truly appreciate each one of you!

Deidre

Last November/December on our holiday trek to Williamsburg, Virginia, we kept returning to a great restaurant – Amber Ox – just to continue our explorations of their flavorful and expertly crafted meals and drinks.

It was at the Amber Ox, I first experienced eggs cooked in a Shakshuka Sauce. Savory, spicey, and delicious – especially when sopping up the sauce with their amazing fresh baked bread.

Shakshouka/Shakshuka is a Maghrebi dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, olive oil, peppers, onion, garlic, and spices. When the sauce is hot and bubbly, eggs are cracked into an indention made in the sauce, covered with a lid, and left to cook to the desired doneness.

After the introduction of Shakshuka Sauce, I was quick to spot jars of it in various stores. Yeeha!

But, I pretty much am cooking for just two people, and a Costco-sized jar of sauce was partially used, frozen, and thawed a bit to use some more … you understand the problem.

Well, once again, a recipe is born out of longing for a certain flavor profile with easier-to-access supplies.

Flashback to my first introduction to breakfast spiciness – Huevos Rancheros in Sacramento, California – when I was just beginning to develop a palate beyond middle-of-the-road American.

Huevos Rancheros meets Shakshuka!

It’s fusion, baby!

With a handy, ever-present small jar of salsa and a new staple in the fridge – a small jar of Thai Red Curry Paste – I can easily assemble some savory/spicy eggs.

After sauteing whatever veggies I have on hand such as:

Onion

Garlic

Bell pepper

Mushrooms

Spinach

Leftover cooked butternut squash

I add salsa and several dabs of the Thai Red Curry Paste. Stir to combine. Make indentations for the eggs. Crack the eggs into their nests. Add crumbly cheese on top, if desired. Cover with a lid and cook until done.

This morning I scrambled the eggs a bit in place in the pan and flipped sections over to cook uncovered on both sides.

So good.

This warming recipe is so versatile. I encourage you to try a little fusion at breakfast.

Sharing this post is easy by using the options under the MORE button below.

In health –

Deidre