I make Butternut Squash Soup fairly often but I've never tried roastlng it.  I roast potatoes, carrots, peppers, onions, etc. from time to time but never thought of squash.  Thanks for the idea.

We use butternut squash quite often as I bake it in the fall when it is plentiful and scoop out the insides, mash and freeze it in small serving size baggies.    When I defrost it for serving,   I add a bit of brown sugar, some spices, butter and heat it in a serving dish.    It is so tasty. 
  My mother and grandmother made pies of squash also and it is so mild and good that with the same additions that you would use for pumpkin pie,  I don't think you could tell the difference.   Some say they prefer it to pumpkin.

  As for cutting it up for cooking,   it IS a very hard skin.    I have a large and heavy knife that I use.   I usually open the squash outside so that if it should slip away from me it won't hit the kitchen floor.     I have a small hammer and use that with the point of my large knife to get a start.    Then the knife will cut it enough to break apart so the seeds can be removed before baking.  This is not a vegetable preparation for the timid or  faint of heart. but well worth the effort and the aroma of a baking squash in the kitchen is delightful!

Joy, I am going to look for that prepared ButterNut Squash next time in Warmarts. Recipe sounds good. I never eat it because never knew how to cook it.  Also hated peeling it.
Now is it in the Freezing area or over in the Fresh Veg.?

Jeanne,  my Walmart has a small area in the produce section where they have small packages of different kinds of veggies.  Small packages of cut celery stalks,  sugar snap peas,  the squash, and other veggies.  Makes it so convenient, especially for a single person. 
Hope you can find them.

Joy

You are really spoiled with all those ready to use produce.
I find that the vegs sold in open market are tastier because they seem fresher that the prepacked ones.
We are lucky here with the profusion of fresh fruit and vegs.  Maybe it is a little more work, but well worth it.

I love fresh, too, but with things like squash that has a tough outside I prefer the packaged with the already peeled and cubed veg.  I like the sound of Squash Pie but probably won't try it.  I am a terrible pie baker!

You all are making me hungry.  Since we are still opening boxes from our Wednesday move, I've only managed scrambled eggs and toast.

Phyllis, you probably went to this one?

http://www.johnsonupdaydowndaydiet.com/html/how-to-do-the-diet.html

This one is at Low Carb Friends, and they have a very active JUDDD board.  People post recipes and lots of good ideas. You don't havd to join unless you want to post.

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/forumdisplay.php?f=89

Nita, I was looking at JUDDD and thought I'd try it for a while ... yesterday was my first down day, so today I can eat again!  I'm thinking of taking myself out for lunch today and maybe a little shopping ... my cupboard is getting bare.

BTW I have used those cubed squash from WalMart ... I never thought of baking them, though.  I might just give that a try soon. 

I've been meaning to pick up some frozen butternut squash, cubed.  With just me, smaller bags are better.  If I buy fresh though, I freeze if I can't eat it right away. 

I have quite a few recipes I've gathered. Some low carb, some low fat, and some just ordinary, good tasting.  I'm sure we all have favorites. I like simple. 

Jane, I was typing away while you were posting.   I'm glad you're gonna try this too.  Yes, you need an UP DAY for your birthday.    I didn't do so good on my down day yesterday, Maycie is here, so having a couple of down days.

My cupboard is bare too.  I need to make a pot of vegetable soup, but that means leaving my house.  I do have fixings for some smoothies. Maybe I'll just stay with those today.

Nita, thanks for the links.  The second one seems to give me more practical day-to-day information.

I'm making no promises but I'll give it a try.

Well, I did get to the store but, while there, it became very clear that I would not be going to any sort of eatery.     So, I picked up a frozen pizza (thin crust) and will open a bottle of wine!   Happy Birthday to me!    

A sweet surprise this afternoon was a phone call from my granddaughter's number, but when I answered it my little/big 4year old great granddaughter wished me a happy birthday and when I said thank you, Karmen ... she responded with "You're welcome"  good manners.   

Happy Birthday Jaywalker.  Enjoy the pizza and wine.   That sweet little phone call will keep you smiling all evening.

Happy Birthday,  Jane.  I sure hope you enjoyed your wine and pizza.   Good combination !

I know how you felt after hearing your birthday greeting from your great-granddaughter.   I love to talk to mine, too.  They say the sweetest things.

Enjoy the rest of your special day !!

Joy

Thanks, Joy ... I spent the day the same as usual, for me..... quietly!  The pizza and wine were an addition, though .... and very good.

A very happy birthday to you Jaywalker.

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Happy Birthday yesterday, Jane.

I understand what you mean about a quiet day.  My birthdays are that way, too.

I had a modem problem Grrrrrrrrrrrr... as if it was enough to have a pipe leak and workers breaking the bathroom floor and probably the kitchen too!

Sorry to hear of your multi troubles Bubble!   Hope they are resolved soon.

Regarding a quiet birthday......a quiet day is a good day, these days for me!     We spent my birthday this year at the hospital with DH and didn't give too much thought to what day of the year it was.

As far as cooking is concerned,   meal preparation has become a new challenge here.    I cook and he doesn't eat more than a couple bites.   Breakfast is the best meal and I do try to make that a good one.    Beyond that it is mostly Ensure/shakes and maybe some light soup or ice cream.   I need to really rethink meal planning!

maryc, I had the same problem when Ben got sick: ensure and sweet yogurt.  Then I experimented on having my regular food, let say meat balls and rice or mashed potatoes with string beans, pureed in a blender with some stock.  Ben found that palatable to drink and a welcome change. He did not have much, but at least it was not so repetitive.

maryc - sorry to see that your Al, is not feeling well.  I do hope his appetite will pick up, and that he will be better soon.  Maybe if he can go outside in the warm spring air, it will help. 

Thank you for the kind thoughts and food suggestions.  Sorry to complain.   I know that some of you have been down this road before. 

I treated my cabin fever today with  a trip to Sam's and ALDIS.   I left a cup of cream soup for Al to heat up if he wanted something.   When I came back he said that the microwave may have blown a circuit breaker but he didn't want to go to the basement to check (thank you God for that decision!)    It isn't a breaker.  Al thinks  there might be a fuse somewhere in the microwave so I will ask our son when he calls.   He is sharp on that kind of thing.  Our MW was not an expensive model and I have put it to very good use so it doesn't owe us anything.  I never thought I would be so dependent on an item like this but discovered years ago when we went camping  without one just how often it was used daily.   

maryc---My neighbor got burnt out on Ensure after awhile and his doctor suggested an envelope of Instant Breakfast, whole milk  (or half & half), a scoop of ice cream and a banana--mix well in a blender.  She can make him a "shake" in the morning and he will drink a couple of ounces several times a day.  She changes up the flavors daily. 
Good luck!

I only cook for myself, so I realize how easy the choices are for us who live alone.  I remember how it was when Ron was alive, and the stress of trying to find things he would eat and be halfway healthy. Actually, I didn't realize the stress of meal preparation until about 6 months after he was gone.  His appetite was almost non existent. Poor guy.  He wanted ice cream for every meal.

Maryc....yes, some of us do understand, so don't worry about "complaining".    Just saying how it is...not complaining.

I made my vegetable soup today. No potatoes or corn, but greens, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, and other things I can't remember.   I used fat free chicken broth for liquid, plus all the spices.  It's probably close to what Weightwatchers calls the 0 pt soup.  Trying to make up for a bad weekend. Haha.

I did buy some 40 calorie fudgesicles. A nice way to end a meal.

Maryc, sometimes when I am tired I add a good dip of ice cream, a little orange juice, a banana, a bottle of Boost (with extra protein), a half tsp of vanilla and mix with my infusion blender.  It helps.

Hi again and keep those great food tips rolling!   I have been "doctoring up" the Ensure with fruit and ice cream.  DD bought me an infusion blender and I've found that to be very useful.  Today I bought some vanilla Boost thinking that it would adapt to some other flavors.
Have any of you tried the fruit drinks that are sold in the coolers in the produce dept?  One has a trade name "Naked and contains several fruit and vegetables. I think they would be good in dieting as there is no refined sugar.   The other new item I've tried are smoothies by Dole. They are frozen crushed fruit...just defrost add juice and shake.

Nita,your soup sounds good and a fudgecicle to top it off especially good.    I have a box of popsicles that are really really good and very fruity.  They are called Outshine fruitbars....35-40 calories.
The lime one is like a Marguerita w/o the booze.

Now I feel like having all those goodies instead of real food!

Hi Everyone
I like Chocolate eclairs!

Kelly

Kelly, I love chocolate anything   Probably even more than Molly does .

Mary