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Beans are soaking now for 12 bean soup tomorrow. I will probably make cornbread sticks - I have a cast iron pan specifically for these - to go with. PSA - NO SUGAR EVER in the cornbread 





Speaking of nuts, we are bummed that two large crows are stealing the whole walnuts that we put out on the deck for the squirrelsSpeaking of food prices, pine nuts were $35/bag at Costco yesterday. The last time I bought them there they were $18.
You just trained a bunch of corvids with treats. They're every bit as smart as dogs. You just gained a flock of new friends. Maybe cultivate a witchy aesthetic to match?Speaking of nuts, we are bummed that two large crows are stealing the whole walnuts that we put out on the deck for the squirrelsDH has been ordering 20# of nuts for a few years. We toss out a handful each day until they're gone. The 20# bag usually lasts through the end of March. We get a big kick out of watching the squirrels eat the walnuts while sitting on the deck rail or running around the yard to find a place to bury the nuts for another time. We don't know where the crows came from as we hadn't noticed them during the summer. Any suggestions for how to get rid of the ugly birds?
I added a Humane Society source to my post above from which I got some good ideas for getting rid of the crows. We have several disposable aluminum pans that we can hang from the outdoor lamps on the deck. We don't want those ugly birds eating walnuts that we bought for our squirrely buddies.You just trained a bunch of corvids with treats. They're every bit as smart as dogs. You just gained a flock of new friends. Maybe cultivate a witchy aesthetic to match?![]()
Leave out the Mylar balloons, they're awful for the environment, and expensive! We have a helium shortage!I added a Humane Society source to my post above from which I got some good ideas for getting rid of the crows. We have several disposable aluminum pans that we can hang from the outdoor lamps on the deck. We don't want those ugly birds eating walnuts that we bought for our squirrely buddies.
- Devices with reflective surfaces that spin or flap in the breeze can frighten crows. Buy them or make yourself—string up aluminum pie tins or discarded CDs around vulnerable plants or tie helium-filled Mylar party balloons around your garden.
We've only noticed the crows in the backyard and will hang the aluminum pans on the deck. We suspect that the nasty birds are roosting in the woods behind our home. There goes the neighborhoodLeave out the Mylar balloons, they're awful for the environment, and expensive! We have a helium shortage!
But the other ideas are great. If you hang the CDs from fishing line, they make beautiful outdoor mobiles. Just don't put them near your driveway or the road, or they can reflect the sun in your eyes when you're driving.
I'm glad that you liked the recipe. We eat a lot of acorn squash in the fall and usually just have it roasted with a little butter, salt, pepper, and freshly ground nutmeg. I like a little maple syrup on mine, but DH prefers a savory dish. Our prep was becoming boring, so I looked for other ways to serve the delicious winter squash. The Martha Stewart recipe is perfect. I've made it with different varieties of mushrooms and starches. If I have mushroom Better Than Boullion, I mix it with hot water and use that instead of chicken or vegetable stock for a rich, earthy flavor.I made this for dinner last night, and it was delicious! I used vegetable broth, and doubled the amount of mushrooms and onions. Definitely a keeper recipe.
I've never seen acorn squash out here. We eat a lot of butternut, though. Would it work with butternut?I'm glad that you liked the recipe. We eat a lot of acorn squash in the fall and usually just have it roasted with a little butter, salt, pepper, and freshly ground nutmeg. I like a little maple syrup on mine, but DH prefers a savory dish. Our prep was becoming boring, so I looked for other ways to serve the delicious winter squash. The Martha Stewart recipe is perfect. I've made it with different varieties of mushrooms and starches. If I have mushroom Better Than Boullion, I mix it with hot water and use that instead of chicken or vegetable stock for a rich, earthy flavor.
I'm sure you could make the recipe with any type of winter squash. Butternut is much milder in flavor than acorn squash, so it would probably be best to stick with milder mushrooms and onions so the squash isn't overpowered by those flavors.I've never seen acorn squash out here. We eat a lot of butternut, though. Would it work with butternut?
Mushrooms and onions are off the menu anyway because of partner's FODMAP issues, and pumpkin she can only eat in small amounts for the same reason. Sweet potato is good, though. We modify things a lot.I'm sure you could make the recipe with any type of winter squash. Butternut is much milder in flavor than acorn squash, so it would probably be best to stick with milder mushrooms and onions so the squash isn't overpowered by those flavors.
That brownie sounds AMAZING! Major brownie envy, here.We are on holiday, a week at the coast. Today we visited our favourite local deli here and spent far too much on treaty bits. Their brownie of the day is maple pecan, so we’re having that with their clotted cream ice cream for dessert tonight. Dinner is casserole made with local sausages, veg and chestnuts. Slight experiment on my part but it smells good in the oven. Prosecco chilling for the hot tub later!
It was so good! I’m not even a huge fan of nutsThat brownie sounds AMAZING! Major brownie envy, here.
Pecans are literally my favourite nut. Everyone puts walnuts in banana bread. Walnuts are fine, but they should try it with pecans. It's just... *chefkiss*It was so good! I’m not even a huge fan of nuts
We mostly cook with pecans here in the SE. a lot of people have trees in the yards. All we have to do is pick them up and have them cracked, then shell them. I have several gallons of halves in my freezer.Pecans are literally my favourite nut. Everyone puts walnuts in banana bread. Walnuts are fine, but they should try it with pecans. It's just... *chefkiss*
This is the reverse of our issue, squirrels keep robbing our bird feeders. We have tried squirrel-proof bird feeders and they always manage to get into them and steal all the bird food.Speaking of nuts, we are bummed that two large crows are stealing the whole walnuts that we put out on the deck for the squirrelsDH has been ordering 20# of nuts for a few years. We toss out a handful each day until they're gone. The 20# bag usually lasts through the end of March. We get a big kick out of watching the squirrels eat the walnuts while sitting on the deck rail or running around the yard to find a place to bury the nuts for another time. We don't know where the crows came from as we hadn't noticed them during the summer. Any suggestions for how to get rid of the ugly birds?
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What to do about crows
Crows can get in the trash and compost. These smart black birds are now common residents of cities and towns, but relocation is more effective and humane than poison.www.humanesociety.org