winter

Stuffed Acorn Squash

*Serves 2

Zucchini bread in-a-jar is one of my favorite ways to utilize and store zucchini for the winter. Not only is it delicious, but they make for cute holiday baskets.

For this recipe you will need 6 wide mouth mason jars with the lids and rings. Be sure to sterilize your jars and lids before using them to be sure there is no chance of mold or bacteria being present during the preservation process.

Makes 6

Ingredients

2 Cups Sugar or natural sweetener substitute

1 Cup Coconut Oil

This weekend, my brother, his old friend, and I, got to talking about Ohio.  About how sometimes it’s a wonderful place. My brother and I grew up near Cleveland, but neither of us spends much time at home anymore.  He was recently living in Southeast Asia, and now, upon coming home, he’s moved out to the Pacific Northwest.  He said he just couldn’t stand the winters, the seemingly endless season of 5pm sunsets and ice-crusted mornings.  For my part, I didn’t mind the cold.  I just wished Ohio weren’t so flat.  I longed for mountains.

My family and ancestors are from the tropics. The seasons they experienced were the harmattan and rain.  Even though I find comfort and ease in warm weather, I acknowledge that I was raised in New England. I’ve faced many climates growing up on the east coast. I must say, navigating the winters of my life have always been the hardest. The sunlight left too soon and the darkness would stay too long.  The snow could be unbearable. When another six feet of snow came down, I would throw my hands up in exasperation, believing the storms would never end.