Squash and Chuzy Tots

Since I went to Stonewall Kitchen, my culinary curiosity has gotten the better of me. Don't get carried away, I have not turned into a food blogger quite yet.

Last night I baked a butternut squash. Before last night, my experience with butternut squash was boiling pre cut pieces or ordering butternut bisque at a restaurant. Yesterday,I actually bought a squash, washed it, cut it in half and put on butter, salt, pepper and brown sugar. Yes, it was delicious.

The other night, at our local watering hole, there was a new appetizer on the menu, "chuzy tots". I was confused about what exactly a chuzy tot was, but then found out that the waitress did not write too clearly and it was suppose to say cheesy tots.

B and I tried out our chuzy tot recipe today. Tater tots, bacon and melted cheese. Mmmmm, mmmm good!! We tried them with ketchup and sour cream (at different times) and they were good either way. Not exactly a low fat, high energy food, but a perfect snack for watching a football game on a cold fall day. B wants to introduce them to Thanksgiving dinner, but I am not sure the family is ready for that kind of tradition shake up.

Shaw's Rocks!

When did I become the person that gets excited about grocery stores? This, to me, is VERY scary. Excited? About a grocery store? When I was younger, I used to go to the grocery store with my mom. It was that oldest kid guilt thing, I guess. I felt like I should go with my mom to the grocery store to keep her company. Why that was, I don't know. She knew EVERYBODY in the grocery store! We would stop in the middle of each aisle and catch up with each person we saw. Maybe I went with her just to get her to buy food because now she will think and talk about going to the grocery store for a full day and a half before she actually gets there.

So, back to me, (it always comes back to me)..... I dropped B at soccer practice in Orleans tonight. That is a different town than which we live. I had to run to the grocery store because I was out of the basics: bread, milk and paper towels. The paper towels being the most important because I go through like a roll a day. I went to Shaw's instead of my regular Stop and Shop which is closer to my house. I grabbed a little basket because I only needed 3 items. Got that? Only 3 items. What woman actually goes into a grocery store and buys only the 3 items that she needs? My husband could, but not me. Half way through the store, I upgraded to a cart. This is where the story becomes sad. I was getting excited at the different things this store carried than the store I normally shop at. Obviously I was missing out on new products by not experimenting with different grocery stores! Normally, I get bored by the grocery store (and a little angry too, at how much money it sucks out of me each month). I get bored of making the same lunches, dinners, snacks etc... But at Shaw's tonight, I was practically giddy with excitement! I am shaking my head in disbelief at how pitiful that just sounded. Ugh. These are some of the new products I found....

A new Ocean Spray drink? Yummy! One that will give me energy and help prevent bladder infections?! Cool! Pickles in little bowls that I can put in B's lunch? Ooooh, is she going to be psyched when she opens her lunch box tomorrow! Breadsticks to dip in peanut butter? What a great snack that both girls will like and it's different than goldfish and pretzels! Plus, not pictured are the large pork bones that I bought my dog and my nephew-dog for a treat when they are on their playdate tomorrow. Have I ever seen these items at Stop and Shop? I think not! I've got to go lay down and rest now. I just had a full cardio workout at the grocery store!