Fall 2003 Edition 

A Little Update   By Jeanne Baratta (Fair Lawn's Kitchen Elf)   It has been two years since I began writing for FairLawnNews.com and it has been a blast.    I have had the privilege of meeting some of the readers of FairLawnNews, I have corresponded with many via email, and I have made lasting friendships. I thought I would use this space to give an update on some of the topics I have shared with you in the past.    In the Garden  The monsoons descended on us this summer, starting in June, sneaking away for a bit, only to return for a grand finale. Our garden faired pretty well though it all. The tomatoes suffered the most, filling with water and splitting a bit, but what do they say, “when you get lemons make lemonade”, well if you get split tomatoes make tomato sauce (and lots of it)!  The pumpkins and gourds seem to enjoy the water, we may even end up with some “Cinderella” sized pumpkins this year. Our biggest surprise was winter squash; I have always tried to grow acorn and butternut squash, but with disappointing results. This year we have an abundance! I have come up with some new recipes to make the most of our bounty and the best part is the kids really love this stuff. We have had butternut and acorn squash pie, soup, we have baked it in the oven, we have pureed it like mashed potatoes candied it like yams, and my children just can’t seem to get enough of it, and best of all I can freeze it to enjoy throughout the winter. Below I have included the recipe for candied Acorn or Butternut squash. If you have not already, you should give this Autumn veggie a try!  Those Squirrels!  I received the most feedback when I wrote about my “squirrel problem”  See Article From October 2002), so I thought you might enjoy the continuing saga!  I have a home office in half of my basement and can usually be found down there very late at night. One night this summer, I heard an awful noise in the basement. Now, I was having work done in my yard and had workers in and out of the basement, so at first thought I figured they had left the crawl space open and a critter had wondered in. Feeling brave, and armed with a broom, I moved toward the noise. Luckily nothing jumped out at me, what I did find though was a pile of grass and leaves spewing from my furnace. Mystery solved, something had been nesting in my chimney and fell into the furnace.  The next morning I told my husband of my discovery, certain he would take care of the matter. No such luck, he had a day of meetings and told me to handle it. I called Fair Lawn Animal control, they told me that they only handle animal problems outside of the home (if it was outside it wouldn’t be a problem), but they gave me telephone numbers of people that handle this situation. I called a gentleman from Saddle Brook who said he would take care of the matter by 12 noon and the fee would be $125.00 (I’m thinking for a few cents I can just turn on the furnace). At 2pm, the Animal Man called to tell me that he had not forgotten me, he had been skunked twice and was home taking a shower. I thanked him for that, and told him to hurry because it was getting close to dinnertime and whatever he pulled out of the furnace was it! He suggested chicken instead (at least he had a sense of humor)!  The doorbell rang at about 3pm. Parked in my driveway was an old station wagon equipped with lots of cages and two irritated skunks, at my door was the Animal Man; most of his fingers were bandaged his clothes were a bit disheveled but alas he was clean smelling! He told me about his day; he had been skunked twice, bitten a few times and burnt on a heating device. To say this man was unique would be an understatement.   Down the basement we went, him with some tools and a cage, me holding my head and praying. The Animal Man proceeded to slowly take apart the hose on the furnace. He then stuck his flashlight in a small crack and announced that we had a squirrel. He asked for a towel to shove in the hole and told me to shut off the lights on his command. At this point I am thinking, “This man has been skunked twice, bitten and burnt all in one day, what are the odds that he is going to catch this squirrel, and more importantly, WHY AM I STILL STANDING HERE!” Just as I was thinking that he shouts out “Hey lady, if this squirrel gets away from me are you going to freak out?” to which I replied, “Ok, I’m out of here.”  I retreated upstairs to write out his check. The “all clear” signal came a few minutes later. When I went back down to the basement there was one very scared and soot covered squirrel in a cage. But wait, I know this squirrel, he only has half a tail, this is the crazy squirrel from my bird feeders. This is the squirrel that ransacks my garden; eating my gourds and nibbling my prized pumpkins, not to mention how he terrorizes the birds! I had not realized I was saying all this aloud, until the Animal Man said, “I can’t wait to tell my friends that you recognized the squirrel”. In conclusion, by the end of my ordeal the Animal man looked normal and now I was the crazy one!  Note: For those concerned about the fate of the squirrel, the Animal Man had one more job up in Montclair, a raccoon I think, he would then release the 2 skunks, my squirrel and the raccoon somewhere in the woods of Montclair. I hope they are all very happy!     Candied Acorn or Butternut Squash  2 acorn squash or 2 small butternut squashed ; peeled, seeded and cut into chunks   teaspoon salt   6 tablespoons butter   1/2 cup brown sugar   1/3 cup maple syrup   Preheat oven to 350.   Place chunks of squash in a large pot, cover with water and add salt. Bring to a boil and cook until squash is fork tender. Drain.   Arrange squash in a glass or metal baking dish and dot with the butter. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over squash and drizzle with maple syrup.   Bake squash, uncovered, in a 350 oven for 30 - 40 minutes. Enjoy!  Variation: To make this dish even gooier and kid friendly, toss a handful of mini marshmallows on top before baking.   Check out the Kitchen Elf's Other Wonderful Articles The Games We Play (June 2003) Has Spring Really Sprung  (April 2003) Happy Hour:  Rated 'G'  (February 2003) Holiday Sanity (December 2002) For The Birds  (October 2002) In My Vegetable Garden  (August 2002) What To Do With Kids on Summer Vacation  (June 2002) Family Time and Dinner Time  (April 2002) What To Give (And Not Give) Your Wife (February 2002)  Kitchen Elf on Staying Fit  (December 2001) New Market and Gourmet Apples  (October 2001)