Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Two posts in a row about food.
Hmmmm
but this soup is so amazing I wanted to share it with anyone looking for something new to try.  Last night was the second time we made it and it turned out just as good so this is a keeper!

Curried Butternut Squash Soup
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
3 Tbsp. butter
3 tsp. red curry powder or curry powder (we used hot curry powder)
3 tsp. grated fresh ginger (we used ground ginger powder)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 can (14oz) reduced sodium chicken broth (we also mixed our own with chicken bullion cubes once)
1 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 lbs butternut squash (about 4 cups) peeled and cut into 1" cubes
1 can (14oz) unsweetened coconut milk (Imperial Dragon is a great brand)
1/2 cup of half-and-half or light cream (we used our coffeemate coffee creamer last night)
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro (we used frozen cilantro from our garden last year)
Optional:
Skott added some smoked paprika and minced garlic as well.

In a large saucepan, cook onion in butter over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until tender.  Stir in curry poweder, ginger, and salt.  Cook 30 seconds more.
Stir in chicken broth and water, bring to a boil.
Add squash (we pre-steamed our squash so it cooks faster).  Return to boiling, then reduce heat and let simmer (recipe says for 40 minutes, but that is if your squash isn't pre-steamed).
When squash is tender, let soup cool slightly.  Transfer half of the cooled soup to a blender or food processor.  Blend until smooth.  Combine back into saucepan.  Stir in coconut milk, creamer, and cilantro.  Heat.

Now, here is a question for you:
Does anyone have a good method for recipe keeping?  We get a lot of recipes online and print them off, therefore, we have lots of various sized print-outs of recipes.  We hate recipe boxes.  We like to be able to write our modifications on the recipe, notes, etc.  We currently have a drawer full of recipes.  Some of the really good ones I have put in plastic sleeves but they are still an unorganized mess. 
How do YOU store, organize, etc your recipes?  Any suggestions? 
I don't really have the time or desire to hand-type all of them so they are uniform, plus I like pictures :)
And how do you handle recipes you see and clip from a magazine?  You want to try them, but what if they are crap?  What do you do with them before trying them? 
Help :)

Bread

A friend of ours shared a wonderful bread recipe with us. 
Thanks Molly! -I think?  I don't know, I have a weakness for good bread but I like this recipe because it keeps for a long time in the fridge and you can make whatever sized loaf you need so you don't have a bunch sitting around calling you from the kitchen.

This was my first attempt.  We used them as bread bowls for cheddar broccoli soup on a cold winter day.

heavenly

I have made several more batches since then, each time experimenting with something new.  I did a rosemary and garlic batch that was fabulous.  Right now I am trying a batch with Guiness as the liquid instead of water.  Not sure how that will turn out with the yeast activation, etc but I will keep you posted!

Here's a link to the website with the recipe:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx?page=9

 There is quite a bit of information here but the recipe I have been using is:
1 1/2 Tbsp yeast
1 1/2 Tbsp salt
6 1/2 cups flour
3 cups water

We use a pizza stone and the bottom of our broiler pan for the water in the oven.

My next step:  tackle foccacia

Update:
So the Guiness beer idea -not so much.  It made the bread an interesting color, but NONE of the flavor was there.
Last night I tried a regular recipe with big chunks of sharp cheddar cheese and some jalapenos mixed in.  That was amazing.  Oh, and I put a little of the jalapeno juice in the dough.  Tasty!
Tonight I am making little bun sized loaves to use for tilapia sandwiches....  Anyone hungry?

The Flying Pig

If you're ever in Wisconsin, it is worth taking a drive up to Door County.
This has become our ocean away from home.... the closest thing to the beach we can get here in the Midwest.

A must on the list of stops is the coolest place called "The Flying Pig".  Here is a link to their website:
http://www.theflyingpig.biz/
Technically, I guess they are in Algoma, which is south of Door County, but it's a slight detour on our way home so it is lumped in with Door County.
It is wonderful and inspirational to walk their grounds and see all the neat plants and displays:

We got to meet the artist that designed this.  There were live birds nesting on the left support post.

These are trained apple trees.  I love this technique!

The also carry the most amazing muffins and have delicious espresso!


Last year for our anniversary we bought a really neat clock from The Flying Pig.  I also got a REALLY cool "Plant a Lamp".  You know those touch lamps? -well, this is similar only it is a lamp in a plant and you touch the leaves of the plant to turn it on and off.  No joke.  I saw it working.  I haven't planted mine yet, as I am still searching for that perfect pot to put it in.  Here's the link to "Plant a lamp":
http://www.plantalamp.net/

So if you're ever near Algoma and need some creative inspiration, I highly reccommend The Flying Pig.  The owners are awesome and the staff is always friendly.

stooopid cancer

Izzy had a mast cell tumor removed a couple months ago.  It was first spotted a short time after we started fostering her in Aug. 2007.
Well dang the luck, I just found another one on her other shoulder that looks exactly like the first one did so many years ago. I just hope it is as slow-growing as the first one.  She had malignant cancer already when she was rescued from the puppy mill in Oklahoma so every day with her is a gift.  She has just made such an amazing transition that I want her to have many more years left to enjoy life like it should be!

It's not often that Fucie and Izzy snuggle.  They play quite a bit, but Fucie doesn't seek her out like he did Rori.  Maybe it's because Izzy literally tried to kill him the first 4 months we had her.  Or could it be because of the time she tried to drag him across the top of a baby gate by his jaw?  Or maybe the fact that a couple times a year she had unpredictable bursts of regression wherein she attacks him with intent to kill for no apparent reason?
Hmmmm,
can't blame him for being leary.
But last night they both snuggled on the couch with me after Skott went to work.  Proof that with enough time, patience, and discipline, even the worst cases can be rehabilitated.
Please, think twice before you buy a dog from a pet store or backyard breeder.  Pet stores get their stock from puppy mills -like where Izzy came from.  Lives spent living in cages stacked on top of eachother, dark, cold, no human interaction, cages layered in feces and urine.
To refresh:
When we picked Izzy up she had already been to two other foster homes.  We were her last hope before euthanasia.  She was filthy and her back legs were solid callouses from the concrete pad she was kept on.  She didn't know how to eat food from a dish.  She has no teeth -she wore them off trying to chew her way out.  She is completely blind in one eye due to injury neglect.  She was terrified of other dogs, didn't know how to walk on a leash.... it was heartbreaking.

Please, visit the humane association.  Google "(breed you're interested in) + resuce" and I guarantee you will get hits.  Every breed has a rescue organization.