Green Beans Almondine

16 oz green beans (I prefer the fresh ones as opposed to the canned)
1/2 cup almonds
1/4 cup butter
2 tsp lemon juice
dash salt

1. Cook green beans until tender
2. toast almonds in melted butter
3. stir in lemon juice and salt
4. add mixture to green beans and toss to combine

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Cranberry and Pumpkin Muffin Stuffing

4 day old Muffins (2 Cranberry -- I always use Cranberry Orange Walnut, 2 Pumpkin) Cut into cubes
2 medium leeks, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 tbsp butter
3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 tsp poultry seasoning (I like Bell's)
1 cup chicken stock

1. Heat a skillet to melt the butter
2. Saute the leeks and celery
3. Add the muffin crumbles and toast them in the pan
4. Add the seasonings
5. Moisten with the chicken stock and reduce heat to low

I got this idea when I made Rachael Ray's Lemon Poppy Muffin Stuffing.  I just swapped out the lemon poppy muffins for the pumpkin and cranberry when I made it for thanksgiving.

Almost ready for Thanksgiving dinner!

Caitlyn's Awesome Butternut Squash Soup

Here's another soup recipe.  I can't take the credit for this one, as it's adapted from a recipe that I got from my friend Caitlyn.  I served this for Thanksgiving last year, in place of the usual mashed squash.

Here's what you'll need:

1 butternut squash cut into 1/2 inch cubes, no skin
water
butter (I used butter, but Caitlyn's recipe called for vegan margarine.  Use whichever you prefer)
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of fresh garlic, chopped
lots of spices
salt

1. Saute garlic and onions in a generous amount of butter
2. add more butter or water as needed until the base of the soup is brown
3. measure out the cut up squash and add the same volume of water to boil.  Add both to the sauteed onions and garlic
4. When you can stick the squash with a fork (like making mashed potatoes from scratch), blend your soup until smooth.  Immersion blenders work great!
5. add your spices!  Suggestions: cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg, coriander, chili powder)
6. You can also add a tiny bit of cream, but since this soup is naturally very creamy, you may choose to leave it out)

Substituions/addtions/suggestions: pumpkin, apples, potatoes