Day 03: Candied Roasted Acorn Squash & the family

My family is coming over. I took the responsibility of cooking the vegetables & potatoes. Anybody can make mashed potatoes. I particularly prefer roasted garlic smashed skinned potatoes. Anybody can also cook up roasted vegetables as well (today, I roasted chinese eggplant, green & red peppers) - if anyone is reading this & would like any of these recipes, just ask & I'll give.

What I was more excited about cooking was the squash. I like different seasonings. My siblings are also very open minded about food. But my traditional parents... not quite so much.

CANDIED ROASTED ACORN SQUASH

2 acorn squash, peeled and cut in chunks
3 white onions, sliced
2 Tbs each dark brown cane sugar and cinnamon
sea salt to taste
olive oil

1. pre-heat oven to 400F.
2. place squash and onions in baking pan and rub with olive oil.
3. sprinkle sugar, cinnamon & sea salt. rub evenly on vegetables.
4. roast in oven for 20-25 minutes, flipping half way.
5. serve warm.

I'd like to see my parents reaction to it. As said, I enjoy trying different herbs & spices. The only thing is, I don't really get to feel that fulfilled joy when I hear my parents say, "what is that?" My challenge - to use different seasonings outside the filipino culture without them complaining about the strong stench or too powerful herbs. A cook is a good cook when you've got people eating your food with unfamiliar tastes & flavours & asking for seconds! At least in my books.

I understand I can't please EVERYBODY. But what means a lot to me are my parents' opinions - both sitting at the kitchen table & out in the real world. I could be indifferent to my parents' palettes & how I should live life. But when can it be my turn to decide how I want to do things. Like how to chop the meat, what temperature to cook thee perfect scrambled eggs, when to go out and what time to come home (... btw, I'll be 29years old this December 4, 2009), how much salt to put in the sardines, what seasoning to rub a perfectly good steak.... you get my drift. I love my parents. Hopefully one day, they'll approve dishes that they're not used to and hopefully one day, I'll have their full support on how I live life.

I do meet them halfway. I won't cook anything with curry when they're home. On a serious note, I do try.

Enough personal talk. Where is everybody??? My stomach is hungry for food!!

7:19pm