A Video A Recipe and Heartfelt Thankyou

We are closing in on the time when we celebrate hope. To me, that's what Christmas is really about. In a time of poverty, darkness and oppression, a baby was born and that moment has been celebrated for over 2,000 years as the perfect symbol of hope. 

Today I read a piece where people posted their current joy. On of the postees said rewatching John Lewis Christmas Ads made her feel good. I had never heard of John Lewis and I turned to YouTube to see what she was talking about. And I loved them. I am sharing my favorite with you. 2016 Buster The Dog

(Just in case the video insert doesn't work, here's the YouTube link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN0lbTq4HnQ )

If you enjoyed Buster here is a video showing all of the 2007-2020

(again, Just in case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rJ86fLF71I&t=180s )

For the curious, The John Lewis & Partners Christmas advert is a television advertising campaign released by British department store chain John Lewis & Partners and since 2019, also Waitrose & Partners in the build-up to Christmas. John Lewis & Partners launched their first Christmas advert in 2007. It has since become something of an annual tradition in the UK,[2] and one of the signals that the countdown to Christmas has begun.

I am grateful to all who read this blog. My Thanksgiving will be small. I suspect that's true for most of us this year. But the joy and good food will be abundant. More than half the turkey will go in the freezer. Some of it will make a guest appearance in Turkey Corn Chowder. But I see no reason to give up my favorite bird because only three of us will be eating it, - one of the "us" being a five-year-old with a small appetite. My son Chris is now Vegan and he won't be eating it.

I am also sharing a recipe my daughter-in-law texted me. It sounds delicious.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cinnamon Butternut Squash with Pecans and Cranberries

I linked to the printable recipe. Below is a look at it.

Ingredients

Roasted Brussels Sprouts:

• 3 cups Brussels sprouts ends trimmed, yellow leaves removed
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt to taste

Roasted Butternut Squash:

• 1 1/2 lb butternut squash peeled, seeded, and cubed into 1-inch cubes (Yields about 4 cups of uncooked cubed butternut squash)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Other Ingredients:

• 2 cups pecan halves
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 2-4 tablespoons maple syrup optional

Instructions

How to roast Brussels Sprouts:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.  Lightly grease the foil-lined baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

2. Trim ends of Brussels sprouts  and remove yellow leaves. 

3. Then, slice all Brussels sprouts in half. 

4. In a medium bowl, combine halved Brussels sprouts, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt (to taste), and toss to combine. 

5. Place onto a foil-lined baking sheet, cut side down, and roast in the oven at 400 F for about 20-25 minutes. During the last 5-10 minutes of roasting, turn them over for even browning, the cut sides should be nicely and partially charred but not blackened (see my photos).

How to roast Butternut Squash:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly grease the foil-lined baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
2. In a medium bowl, combine cubed butternut squash (peeled and seeded),1 tablespoon of olive oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon, and toss to mix.
3. Place butternut squash in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, turning once half-way through baking, until softened.

4. Note: You can roast both Brussels sprouts and butternut squash on 2 separate baking sheets at the same time, on the same rack in the oven – that’s what I did.

How to toast pecans:

1. Toast pecans in the preheated oven at 350 F

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Toast the pecans for about 5 minutes (maybe a bit longer) in the preheated oven at 350 F until they get darker in color.  

4. Note: pecans burn really fast, so make sure to check the nuts after 5 minutes and frequently afterwords. 

Assembly:

1. In a large bowl, combine roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted butternut squash, pecans, and cranberries, and mix to combine. 

2. (OPTIONAL): For more sweetness, add 2 or 4 tablespoons of maple syrup, if desired – do not add all maple syrup at once, start with 2 tablespoons, then add more, if desired, and toss with the salad ingredients to combine.

I wish you a week of joy and gratitudes. With Love. Susan

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