Easy Week Menu

Avocado, Salmon and Cucumber Salad from GirliChef

Would be great for a potluck!  Best when eaten day of as the avocado turns brown...

Butternut Squash and Kale Torte from Women's Day Magazine

Ingredients:

• Olive Oil
• 1 lb butternut squash, thinly sliced
• 1 red onion
• 1 bunch kale
• 1 potato
• 6oz thin sliced provolone cheese
• 1 tomato
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425
2. Oil cast iron pan (original said springfoam pan, that would not have been big enough)
3. Add layers as follows:
1. Half Butternut Squash
2. Half Onion
3. Half Kale
4. 1 t olive oil
5. 1/4 tsp salt
6. Potato
7. Half  Provolone  Cheese
8. Remaining Kale
9. 1 t olive oil
10. 1/4 t salt & 1/4 t pepper
11. Remaining Onion
12. Tomato
13. Remaining Provolone Cheese
14. Remaining Squash
15. Parmesan Cheese
4. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes
5. Remove foil and cook 8-10 minutes

I gave the baking times straight from the magazine.  Our oven took about an hour...but I have no idea what temp it was at...  oh, how I love my kitchen...  This beauty tasted amazing!  The bf cooked it while I was at bikram yoga, and when I got home I accused him of ordering a pizza because the house smelled so good.

Curried Sweet Potato, Squash and Cabbage Soup from GreenFoodGreenThumb

Better than expected.  Made a beer bread to go along with it.  Used up an old hoppy beer for the bread...so, the bread was pretty nasty..haha

Desserts:

Date Bars
My mom, grandma and cousin LOVE date bars.  We used to get a mix from the store and make them all the time.  In the past 10 years or so, we were not able to find the box mix anymore and whenever someone would find some (usually grandma) we would buy them out!  Well, I am happy to report that I have found a recipe that tastes just like the date bars we used to make and enjoy.

This photo does not give the date bar the justice it deserves.

Carrot Cake

 Nothing beats a good carrot cake.