Butternut Squash Pudding

I am jealous of moms whose children will eat vegetables. Well, I'm more than jealous. I literally want to bow at their feet and beg them to share their secrets with me. In my attempt to feed my children vegetables, I made a butternut squash pudding, after sampling some at my CSA, Millsap Farms. So, I made my own, and let me tell you. It's delicious, and the boys loved it, too.

WIC Items:
Butternut squash (1)
Milk (1 1/2 c)
Eggs (2)

Non-WIC Items:
Butter (3 T)
Sugar (1/4 to 1/2 c)
Cinnamon (2 t)
Nutmeg (1/2 t)
Ginger (1/2 t)
You can experiment with different spices. A basic pumpkin pie spice would work well, too.

Cook the squash. To do this, cut it in half and cook it--cut side down--in a 350 degree oven for an hour or so, until it's tender and can easily be pierced with a fork. Scoop flesh out and put in a pot. Add in milk, butter and spices. Use a hand mixer or hand blender to make the mixture smooth. Simmer. In a small bowl mix the eggs with the sugar. Add your eggs to the pot, one spoonful at at time, stirring constantly. If it is not done slowly, your eggs will curdle. Continue stirring until mixture
thickens. Either serve hot or cold.

Recipe idea from Millsap Farms

Easy Homemade Refried Beans

Again with the beans? Yes. One thing that WIC is good for is filling up your cabinet with beans, both cans and bags. My mother-in-law makes the best homemade refried beans, and they're so easy, so I started making them for my family. Talk about cheap and filling! Make them as a side or to put in a tortilla and eat as a burrito. You will love these beans; I promise.

WIC Items:
2 cans of pinto beans (one with the liquid removed)
Onion (1)
Garlic (2-3 cloves)
Green pepper (optional)
Cheese to taste
Tortillas (if you'd like to make burritos)

Non-Wic Items:
Vegetable Oil (a couple of tablespoons)
Cumin to taste
Salt to taste

Saute onion and garlic in the vegetable oil until the garlic is fragrant and the onions are translucent. Add the beans, cumin and salt. With a potato masher, mash the beans while they're warming. Mash until most of the beans are smooshed, but it's OK if you don't get every bean. Don't sweat it. That's what makes these homemade. Taste the beans and decide if you need any more salt or cumin. I add a ton of cumin and salt, because I'm a flavor hound. Once you're happy with the flavor, add cheese. Stir and let the cheese melt. Yum. You will die. These beans are just that good.