Guest Post: Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash with Ashley

Hi everyone! It's Ashley from After Nine To Five and today I wanted to share one of my all time favorite Fall recipes with you : Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash. It's incredibly easy to make, delicious, and super filling. Ingredients:

• 2 Acorn Squash
• 1/2 package of Quorn Crumbles (or hamburger meat)
• 1/2 chopped large onion
• 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 cup salsa
• 1/2 can of black beans
• 1 cup Queso Fresco cheese

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Cut squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Place with the open side down on baking sheet and bake until tender – approximately 30-45 minutes. Cook the rest of the ingredients other than the cheese (crumbles/meat, onion, garlic, beans, salsa and spices) in a skillet over medium heat until crumbles/meat are cooked through – approximately 20 minutes. Stir occasionally. Once the squash is done, fill the halves with the mixture and top with cheese. Cook until cheese is completely melted – approximately 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

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Isn't it great to have friends with delicious recipes?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday, and what a better way to kick off this September blog Party than a birthday, and perhaps a few fun photos! My birthday usually fell on the labour day weekend (read the last weekend of summer before going back to school). And because of this it was common for it to be a fairly small ceremony because friends and family were usually busy getting things ready to head back to the books. That being said my parents, my little brother (once he was born) and my grandparents were usually in attendance.

This is my first birthday! Looks like it might have been a big event by that basket of presents, but then again your 1st is certainly the most exciting for your parents so they tend to round up the troops!

I'm guessing my 4th, because of my hairstyle and what I think is a four on my cupcake. I used to play with these two girls a lot when I was small, but I haven't seen either of them in years. I suppose that's what happens when you grow older.

 This was my 6th or 7th birthday (second from the right), and my mom decided to have a dress-up tea party. It was a great idea, and the dressing up is fun; but September is wasp season, and everyone knows little girls drink juice instead of tea... Let's just say it was a bit crazy with all the girls scared of the bees!

 My 10th birthday! Look at that blonde shiny hair! From a summer spent outside, at camp, swimming and visiting the cottage. I used to get so many compliments on my pretty hair, and now well it's not so shiny and blonde.

This is my 17th birthday, I'm not sure when we officially stopped putting the appropriate number of candles on the cake, but I am clearly not 8! And you can see how much my hair changed in 7 years! Mom says it was because I cut it off when I was 12, and I lost most of the really blonde ends.

Nope, that's not me, but it looks a little like me right? It's my baby brother, I figured we might as well embarrass another with this little event. Here he is on his 9th birthday, when he was still sweet and innocent :)

There is a link-up below, and even if you birthday isn't in September I would still love to see a birthday photo or story from your past. Don't worry we're all friends here! So join the fun :) And I would like to say a big thank-you to my Birthday Link-Up Cohosters:

Cassie from Overuse I Love You

Tara from Sew Tara

Vanessa from Nessbow

xox

Happy September, Let's party!

Today is the beginning of the September Blog Party, and I'm so excited!!! I have some great guest posts with delicious fall recipes and other fun fall themes, a few fun link-ups, and some giveaways planned. Along with some of my regular posts of course. It's going to be a busy month, but so much fun. I hope you will join us!

I am in the process of creating a page with links to all the fun activities as well as my contributors, so please stay tuned for that :) And be sure to check back tomorrow when the first link-up is posted. Get your birthday photos ready!

See you soon
xox