taste of fall: nourishing squash soup

I'm always looking for ways to get more stocks and broths into my family. I put it in almost everything! Here's a delicious squash soup I make using my homemade chicken stock. It has all the tastes of fall! This is wonderful to eat alongside most any meal all winter long. It also freezes very nicely!

¼ cup butter or coconut oil

½ butternut squash

½ spaghetti squash

3 cloves garlic freshly crushed

1 inch cube of fresh ginger chopped

1 tsp sea salt

½ tsp curry powder

½ tsp nutmeg

6 cups homemade chicken stock or broth 

Coconut milk, raw milk cream or cultured sour cream, kefir or Greek style yogurt for garnish.

First, cut spaghetti squash in half length wise. Remove seeds (leave skin on while baking). Place upside down and bake on cookie sheet at 350 for 1 hour.

Next, cut butternut squash in half, remove seeds and skin, cube.

Melt butter inside stockpot and add cubed butternut squash.

Sautee for 10-15 minutes.

Add:

Cooked spaghetti squash half (skin removed)

Garlic cloves

Ginger

Salt

Pepper

Nutmeg

Curry

Chicken Stock

Cook on medium/low for an hour or so, stirring every so often, until butternut squash is soft. Then, use a stick blender and blend until smooth.

Continue simmering the soup on low until you are ready to serve. Sometimes I will let it simmer on the stove top for several hours and it gets nice and thick.

When you are ready to serve, place in bowl and top with your choice of either coconut milk,  Greek-style yogurt, cultured raw milk or cream (kefir) or sour cream along with a dash of nutmeg for garnish.

Out of this world delicious and very nourishing during the winter months.

indulgences for the poor souls

Indulgences for the Poor Souls

Current regulations in force by Pope Benedict XVI 

I On All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite one Our Father and one Credo.

II On all the days from November I though November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray even if only mentally for the departed.

 Conditions for both indulgences:

1. Only one plenary indulgence can be granted per day.

2. It is necessary to be in the state of grace, at least by completion of the work.

3. Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary; otherwise the indulgence is only partial. (By this is meant attachment to a particular sin, not sin in general.)

4. Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought.

5. Prayers must he recited for the intentions of the Holy Father on each day the indulgence is sought. (No particular prayers are prescribed. One Our Father and one Hail Mary suffice, or other suitable prayers.

6. A sacramental concession must he made within a week of completion of the prescribed work. (One confession made during the week, made with the intention of gaining all the indulgences, suffices.)

30-day husband encouragement challenge for wives

I was surfing the web the other night, and came across the 30 Day Challenge - a way to not only encourage your husband, but a way for you, yourself, to grow spiritually. I can't say that I'm always up for a challenge, but this has intrigued me. And who doesn't need to grow spiritually? 
I've always known that you can improve and even change a marriage for the better by giving 100%. I have found that after 17 years of marriage, I have days where I seem to "pick" at my husband. I have no problem letting him know when I'm unhappy or frustrated with him. There are also days when he walks in the door and I hand the baby to him with barely a "hello" or a smile. I'm consumed with children running around the kitchen and clinging to my legs while I try to prepare dinner. I'm usually looking for any sort of relief so I can get it done. I let him know how tired or frustrated I am without a thought to his day. I know I should hug him and kiss him when he walks into the door - that's usually the plan - but life gets in the way and I fail.
This challenge brings to mind Luke 2:19 "But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart."
My goal is always to be more like Mary...to keep things in my heart and not blurt them out of frustration. To really ponder things in my heart... to say less. Sometimes less is best and a kind smile or gentle "hello" can prevent hurt feelings and really build up a marriage. 
I'm beginning the challenge on Monday!