Squash It

Today’s post is a double entendre because I like things with multiple meanings; plus my former English professors would be so proud. Let’s get to it, shall we.

Shit happens. It does; all the time. You can even buy a bumper sticker which announces it, although I’m not advocating this, nor am I talking about getting your daily fiber quota either. I’m referring to bad things, crappy things, and overall shitty things happening because news flash, they do, and there’s usually not a whole you can do to prevent it.

This does not mean you’re helpless though. Inevitably, a weird and sometimes downright crappy thing is going to catch you by surprise, and it is worse when you are surprised. Nothing like being caught with your pants down, so to speak. I promise you, my pants were on and fully intact.

What you can do in these situations though is control how it impacts you. It can ruin your mood, your day, your week, or gasp, your entire weekend. Or you can choose to squash that shit, and move on. Today, I choose to squash what’s been eating at me for four days now. I’ve let it linger long enough, and I’m done with the negative emotions and ready to be me again. I will no longer allow a shitty situation to bring me down.

I have been through some really scary, life changing shit before, and this situation doesn’t even come close to that. It’s not even a blip on my radar screen. So, I’m going to focus on what really matters (health, family, food….always the food) and squash it because I define me, and I define my mood. Not some crappy situation. You wanna know why? Because I am far stronger than people give me credit for, although I’m sure my former English prof might suggest a little hubris be in order.

In honor of figuratively squashing it, I decided to go literal and make some Squash Soup. Butternut and Apple to be exact.

It didn’t hurt I had a huge helping of squash puree leftover from my attempt at homemade ravioli. I was also trying to remember where I had seen a recipe before that had piqued my interest, and lo and behold, Laura actually mentioned her Butternut Squash and Apple soup in her most recent post. When I went to the recipe, of course it was the one I had been pining for so long ago. See sometimes, things are just meant to be.

This soup is one of them.

Seriously, it’s delicious. The first taste is sweet and subtle, but the aftermath is a fiery little kick at the end, which had me going back for more…and more….and more, and the Hubby practically licked his bowl clean, which is unheard of for him (not me; I have no shame). And since this recipe makes a ginormous pot of soup, we have enough left over to freeze a batch for another day. Always a winner in my book. Plus, my freezer is starting to get stacked with all the delicious frozen creations inside. I can’t wait to start devouring them.

If you’re a fan of squash, sweet and sexy (or just downright hot), you need to make this soup.

When you get around to making this delectable bowl of delight (I did say when, not if), do not be alarmed if you don’t have any red pepper infused olive oil because you can easily make your own. Add some red pepper flakes to a little bit of olive oil and let it marinate for a couple of hours. Feel free to throw in some garlic because well, I still have a crapton and everything is better with garlic.

My advice to you today at the start of a holiday week is to Squash It. Literally and figuratively. Embrace your happy and let the rest go because in the grand scheme of things, it ain’t worth your time, and in the words of Diddy, Grandmaster Flash, and probably somebody before him, ♫”Can’t nobody take my pride. Can’t nobody hold me down. Oh noooo, I got to keep on movin.”♬  Sing it with me and squash it.

How do you work through things gnawing at you? Are you doing anything exciting for Turkey Day? What are you planning on making for the holiday?