better than everything bagel spice
the most delicious butternut squash in the world
💫💫💫If you like this post, perhaps you will tap the ❤️ at the bottom? It really helps to spread the word! 💫💫💫
Hi Hi-
A difference in shopping for food here in France, besides price (far cheaper), the vendors (proud of their produce and fun to try my baby French on), the setting (beneath Plane trees, a view of the sea), is the fact that the produce is all local—limited to what is ready to be harvested in the region. There’s an abundance of nightshades just now: eggplant, tomatoes, all sorts of peppers, along with green beans, and zucchini.
I sent Joel to le marché for parsley and he came home with a plant! I have to say, it roots me and delights me to have a small plant to tend in our home away from home. It also reminds me of this lovely Ross Gay mini essay, and this one from Naomi Shihab Nye.
…
Imagine my delight when I spotted the first of the autumn squashes at the market, my favorite, butternut!
…
Do you know of OAKTOWN SPICES? It is a wonderful shop/website with smart and kind people to help you find the perfect spice blends for your ingredients.
When I was packing for our long stay in France, I decided to bring our French friends the Better Than Everything Bagel Spice blend. It seemed decidedly not French, it’s terrific on everything from scrambled eggs, to avocado toast, to salads. And, it didn’t take up much suitcase real estate.
Dear Reader, I kept one packet for myself. I also kept the recipe card, thank goodness, because I must tell you that the roasted butternut squash is out of this world!
…
Do you have a favorite spice blend? A favorite way to prepare winter squash? Do tell!
Thanks for reading. I hope your day is filled with delicious food!
If you missed the last few jewels… no fear! Here they are: cookies. melon salad.
a novel. dance. poem. cake. friendship. school shopping. drawing. coffee cups. copying art.
To stay in the loop:
Tell your people you love them, and take care of your skin!
Hi Natalie. Glad to see you enjoying the French life! I don't have a spice recipe but I wanted to thank you for the two mini essays you opened with. I love Tomato on Board--probably my favorite chapter in Ross Gay's Book of delights. I've used it in classes many times. I hadn't read Naomi S. Nye's Gate A-4--thanks for sharing, love that too. I'm about to do some traveling which entails several flights. I would like to have a gate-waiting experience like hers!
Thank you Natalie! When we were getting ready for the cargo container all my kitchen was being triages. Small Electrics to the garage sale or friends, same with all the biologics. Pantry Staples to friends and Neighbors, including my everything spice! All this new language pushed thoughts of it right out of my head…but you’ve brought it back now.
I’m on a mission now to find it in France!