Cinnamon Apple Honeynut Squash -A Fall Delight

It's officially fall! So it's out with the zucchini and in with the winter squash!

This cinnamon apple honeynut squash recipe is an easy and delicious way to enjoy these sweet little winter "honeynut squashes" that are now seasonally available in supermarkets and farmer's markets.

I was at my local farmers market last week and spotted a farmer selling honeynut squash. I had never cooked one before, so I picked one up—and now I wish I had bought more! It was absolutely delicious.

If you are thinking that it is a mini butternut squash, it's not!! Honeynut squash is a hybrid made by crossing two other winter squashes: butternut and buttercup. The buttercup gives the flesh a heavier consistency and sweeter.  

It looks like a miniature butternut squash and has a naturally sweet, creamy flavor. It's also the perfect size for one or two portions, and it cooks surprisingly quickly. This honeynut squash takes just about 20 minutes to bake, making it an easy side dish for a weeknight dinner.

I actually enjoyed turning on the oven this morning. It was only 39 degrees outside, and we haven't turned on the heat yet, so the warmth from the oven felt pretty good!

Like most winter squash, honeynut squash is a nutrient-rich vegetable. It's particularly known for its beta-carotene, fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. And because it has so much natural sweetness, you don't need to add sugar to make it delicious.

However, I wanted to fancy it up a little, so I turned this simple roasted honeynut squash into a colorful fall side dish. I sprinkled the squash with cinnamon and topped it with grated red apple,  along with some frozen pomegranate seeds that comes in a bag frozen from Wegmans.

Frozen pomegranate seeds in bag - so convenient to use as needed 

Grated apple, cinnamon, and pomegranate seeds

The combination of sweet squash, crisp apple, cinnamon, and juicy pomegranate seeds was delicious. It smelled so appealing  that I could hardly wait to dig in!

Ingredients: 

1 honeynut squash

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Wash the squash well and cut in half. Scoop out the seeds. Use a fork and pierce both halves a few times. Place face down on a parchment covered cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 until squash is soft. 

This cinnamon apple honeynut squash makes a simple, healthy side dish that's perfect for fall and winter. It's easy enough for a regular weeknight but pretty enough to serve when you're having guests.

Next time, I may think of creating a recipe to make stuffed honeynut squash. 

Have you ever made the honeynut squash? How do you prepare it? 

My Notes: 

1. The frozen pomegranate seeds defrosted in minutes

2. I did not peel the apple for the grated apple

3.  This squash is very easy to cut and scoop

4. All of my recipes are gluten-free, vegan, and oil-free (after 2021)

Autopay — Easy To Get In But Hard To Get Out

Beware of ordering online and using Autopay!! It's easy to get in but hard to get out!!

Advertisements on Instagram, Facebook, and even pop-ups are designed to grab our attention. If you start reading and then click on “Learn More,” you can easily find yourself pulled into a long, convincing, interesting, high-pressure sales pitch.

I know because I got sucked in—and I can tell you once you are in, it's hard to get out!!!!

 In this case, the product and program itself was legitimate. The problem was getting out of the autopay once I signed up and then immediately cancelled.

The advertisement offered a “30-day, no-questions-asked return policy,” so I felt comfortable giving it a try. What I didn't realize was how difficult it would be to actually stop the recurring charges.

Trying to Cancel Wasn't Easy

The product was a little mis-advertised. It certainly was not appropriate for vegans nor anyone out of shape especially seniors. When I took a look and immediately decided I wanted to cancel, finding the right customer service information wasn't easy. I spent a lot of time searching, waiting and waiting and waiting on hold, and trying to get through to an actual person.

Eventually after an hour of searching,  I did speak with someone who assured me that my subscription was canceled. I was still well within the 30-day period, so I thought, Okay, that's that. I'm done.

Except it wasn't!!!!

The following month, I noticed another $59 charge on my account again.

So I called again. Once again, after a lot of time waiting on hold and a lot of effort, I finally reached a person. They were apologetic and assured me that everything would be taken care of.

I thought I was finally home free.

Then the $59 charge appeared again the following month and again following month.

At that point, I had had enough. I searched online and of course there were a ton of complaints about that company and their tactics.

PayPal to the Rescue

Fortunately, I had originally paid through PayPal. I went into my PayPal account and stopped future payments to the company. I also had PayPal deal with the company directly.

Eventually, after all that time and frustration, I noticed that once PayPal got involved the three charges were actually credited back to me.

But honestly, it shouldn't have been that upsetting and difficult to get out.

The frustrating part wasn't simply paying for something I didn't want within the return period. It was spending so much time trying to figure out who to contact, how to cancel, and how to actually make the charges stop.

Have I Learned? 

 Recently I Saw Another Convincing Advertisement- and almost got sucked in....

This time it featured what appeared to be Oprah and a famous doctor. 

It was extremely believable and very engaging. I actually wanted to buy the product. And because Oprah herself, in person, appeared to be endorsing it and the advertisement seemed to have her speaking directly to the viewer, I assumed it must be legitimate.

But this time, I decided to check with AI before I clicked the “Buy Now” button.

NOPE!

There were mucho numerous complaints about the product and its advertising. Even more shocking, the well known people who were actually appearing in the advertisement and endorsing the product had never agreed to it.

The images and videos had apparently been created or manipulated using AI.

Can you believe it?

** I learned that Oprah has reportedly stated that she did not endorse the product and that claims about her personal experience with it were not true.

How are they able to do this? I honestly don't know. But apparently, the technology has become sophisticated enough that these advertisements can look incredibly convincing.

The Old Rule of Consumer Beware !!

The whole experience has definitely changed the way I shop online.

My biggest lesson isn't necessarily “don't buy anything you see advertised.” It's more like-  don't automatically trust what you see—and be especially careful with autopay.

Because baby- once you get in autopay, they've got you and your credit card and getting out can be surprisingly difficult.

So now, if I see something that looks interesting, I'll do a little research before I buy. And if I can possibly avoid it, I will never ever sign up for autopay again.

Sometimes a few minutes of research can save you a whole lot of time, money, and frustration.

Have you ever had trouble canceling an autopay subscription from something you purchased through an advertisement?

I'd love to hear your experiences.

What do you think?

IN MY KITCHEN- OCTOBER 2026

I'm joining Sherri at her monthly IN MY KITCHEN at Sherri's Pickings blog share where anyone can join in and showcase what's in their kitchen that month.

I totally love this cheerful French Provincial looking tablecloth which gives the appearance of cloth, but is actually a wipeable plastic oil cloth with a soft  under liner that the surface can be wiped down. It's pretty, colorful, and uplifting.

Carrot Ginger Zucchini Soup – Cozy Fall Vegetable Soup Recipe

A Chilly Fall Day Calls for Cozy Soup

Do you like the taste of fresh ginger? I do, and this easy carrot ginger zucchini soup feels cozy, soothing, and tastes delicious. 

My son's garden is still flourishing with zucchini, even though fall has officially arrived. When he gifted me three zucchini yesterday- two yellow and one green, I knew I wanted to put them to good use.

Blogger Reading List is Back !!

Ai generated photo 

I was so excited. The Blogger Reading List seemed to be back and working again.

 I saw at least five bloggers that I follow who recently posted and I visited each one. 

Then just like that it - I tried to view it later and -it was gone again. ??????

Then later it was back again!!!!

 It may be back by now? Who knows. 

What is your experience? Is it working for you? 

I'm hoping it's back. 

Meanwhile I'm sharing some soup recipes. 

The weather here is getting cooler. Today it is in the mid 50's. Time for soup!!!

Caught In The Act: Grabbing Some Corn

Yup! This may be corny, but I caught a squirrel who stole corn on the cob right off the stalk from a neighboring farm. My son happens to have a farm directly behind his back yard which grows corn.

The other day, I stopped by my son’s house. I walked through the backyard, and as I walked across the yard, I spotted something comical—a squirrel with an ear of yellow corn on the cob in his mouth!

High Protein Chocolate Cookies- Better Than Protein Bars

Do you ever buy protein bars or add powdered protein to your smoothies? I do, and I decided to stop doing it on a regular basis. Instead, I decided to make my own high protein chocolate cookies, and guess what I used for the natural protein?  

Make Way for Ducklings in Boston

Make Way for Ducklings in Boston

While visiting Boston, I spent some time walking through the beautiful Boston Gardens, and one of the things I discovered was the famous Make Way for Ducklings statues.

Maple- Glazed Carrots and Leeks With Pomegranate Seeds For Rosh Hashanah

When was the last time you used leeks in a recipe? This recipe for sautéed leeks and carrots with pomegranate seeds is simple, sweet, colorful and delicious. I made it for Rosh Hashanah for our holiday meal. I meant to publish it last week, but got behind while traveling. ( If you just want the recipe and not the backstory, scroll down to the bottom of the post). 

A Little Mini Vacation to Cape Cod For a Reunion

Sometimes the little mini vacations aren't about seeing as many places as possible—they're about spending time with people you really enjoy. 

I just returned last night from a six-day car trip that included Westchester, NY, Boston, Massachusetts, and Cape Cod.

IN MY KITHEN -SEPTEMBER 2026

What’s in My Kitchen ?

September is a busy month in my kitchen because I’m getting ready for the Jewish New Year holiday, Rosh Hashanah and our celebrations. Right now I'm prepping in advance, and my kitchen is filled with holiday platters and ceremonial dishes, and my freezer is starting to fill up with food that I’m cooking ahead of time.

Easy Zucchini Lasagna - A Healthy Plant-Based Recipe

I promise this is my last zucchini recipe (for this month anyway).  I'm still on a zucchini kick, but since the zucchini at the farmer's stand is slowly coming to an end, so will my zucchini recipes.     .

 I've been experimenting with different ways to use it up. This time, I made a simple plant-based zucchini lasagna using slices of zucchini as my noodles with just four main ingredients: zucchini, marinara sauce, mushrooms, and tofu. (If you don't care for tofu and you eat dairy, substitute ricotta cheese).  

Easy Zucchini Breakfast Muffins - Just 4 Ingredients (vegan and gluten-free)

   

I've been craving muffins lately, and since I have plenty of zucchini on hand, I thought I'd try my hand at making zucchini oatmeal breakfast muffins. I'm have not baked for a long time, so I wanted something really simple—and this recipe couldn't be easier.

Hello NYC and Hello Broadway

A Spontaneous Day in New York City and a Broadway Show...

I live about an hour and half from NYC. About a week ago, I decided to do something I had been thinking about for a while. I went online, bought matinee tickets to a Broadway show, and figured I would find someone to go with me.

Create an Adorable Cauliflower Dog for Your Next Crudité Platter

Want to make a special crudités platter? My friend created this adorable cauliflower dog to sit on her crudité platter for a party, and it was an instant hit! It looks like it took a lot of work, but she assured me it’s actually quite easy to assemble.  

Alaska Cruise: 7 Days, 4 Ports & 3 Excursions

Bald eagles, salmon, totem poles, seals, otters, glaciers, deer, and gorgeous flowers—our seven-day Alaska cruise was filled with amazing scenery and wildlife. Everywhere we looked, there was something exciting and new to see.

Chickpea "Tuna" Salad ; A Plant-Based Alternative to Traditional Tuna Salad

If you enjoy traditional tuna salad but are looking for a healthier plant-based alternative, mashed chickpeas are hard to beat. Not only are they delicious, but they also offer one important advantage: you don't have to worry about mercury.

Our Alaska Cruise - First Stop Seattle

Our Alaska Cruise Began with an Unexpected Surprise in Seattle

We had spent months wondering about the best time to visit Alaska. Would it be cold? Rainy? Foggy? As it turned out, we couldn't have picked a better week. Once our cruise began, we were treated to sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s to upper 60's  almost every day—perfect weather for exploring Alaska's beautiful ports.

Alaska Vacation

I'm on vacation in Alaska on a cruise. I'll have lots of photos to share when I return, which should be any day since I left well over a week ago.

 Hope you are enjoying your summer. 

Cat Sitting and Photos of Our Adventures

Cat Sitting 

My sister-in-law lives about 15 minutes away from us. She went to California for 10 days. We made a trip daily to her house to feed, clean litter boxes, and play with her two cats. We usually spent about an hour there.

They were a lot of fun and we had a good time with them . 

The black and white cat is named Cookie ; the brownish colored cat is named Maple. They are great company for each other, but they still enjoyed our visits. 

I made sure to give them a "Churo" treat each time I came. They went wild over the treat and warmed up to me. 

I'm sharing some photos I took of them over the course of the week. 

Maple liked to go high up on her cat playground to give herself some space away from everyone.

Cookie is the quieter of the two. She is not as playful

Cookie likes to lay on her back

Maple loves her round tunnel. She often zips right through it in a flash!!

Maple looks like she posed for this picture. What a beauty.

Cookie on her scratch pad .

We had fun with them but- we and I am sure that they -were glad when their mommy came home. 

Do you have cats? We don't have any of our own- but most of our local family members have cats. 

We have a grand-cat named LuLu that I have shared about before. Lulu does not like other cats!!!

LULU 

My Notes: 

Please consider purchasing my cookbook on Amazon!  plant-based soups cookbook (affiliate link)

My Soups Cookbook contains over 80 healthy soup recipes and 80 inspirational quotes and time saving cooking tips to help encourage, guide, and inspire readers to reach a greater level of wellness. Plant-based soups cookbook (affiliate link)  on Amazon with a "look inside" option to see all the recipe titles and introduction.

Red Lentil Potato Dal | An Easy Plant-Based Indian Dinner

Do you enjoy Indian cuisine? It's one of our favorites, and last night I made a simple, comforting red lentil potato dal that was relatively quick and easy- as vegetarian cooking goes. You gotta chop!

We're still hosting our cousin from Los Angeles, who is in the area for work. He's a film producer and spends most of the day working remotely, making him an easy houseguest. (His latest film is called "Monument" with John Voight). Since he only eats two meals a day, I like to make sure dinner is something filling. He is not a vegetarian, but he likes ethnic food.

Asian Summer Rolls- no cooking needed

Vegetable filling for Summer Rolls along with sliced pickles, mint, cilantro etc.

To start, I served fresh Asian summer rolls filled with grated raw vegetables, fragrant herbs from my garden, and a few unexpected additions like sliced pickles for extra crunch and flavor. I paired them with a gluten-free peanut dipping sauce that I found at Wegmans, and it was a perfect match.

No Lettuce Salad- no cooking needed

For the dinner, I made a delightful salad without lettuce using canned hearts of palm, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and chunks of avocado. It's one of my favorite combinations because it's fresh, colorful, and the slight juice from the hearts of palm and the creamy avocado kind of make its own dressing.

Rice and Red Lentil Potato Dal-25-30 minutes cooking

For the main course, I served my hearty red lentil potato dal over fluffy white rice. The simple dal was flavored with cumin seeds, ground cumin, turmeric, freshly grated ginger, cracked black pepper, and garlic powder (I had run out of fresh garlic). As it simmered, the kitchen filled with the warm aroma of Indian spices, making it hard to wait until dinner was ready.

The dal (and the rice cooked separately) cooked in pots on low rather quickly (about 30 minutes) so the kitchen didn't heat up too much.

Corn on cob- eaten raw- no cooking needed

Oh, I almost forgot ! I also served fresh corn on the cob from a local farmer who says his corn is Non GMO. It was so sweet, we ate it raw without cooking it. Corn is fabulous eaten right off the cob without cooking. It is sweet, crunchy, and delicious.

Yes, it was a filling meal; we were all so full that dessert wasn't even a consideration. We were stuffed!

The weather here has been brutal—104°F yesterday! It's definitely the kind of heat that makes me crave simple, nourishing meals that don't require hours in the kitchen.

How's the weather where you are? And what's been on your dinner table lately? I'd love to hear what you're cooking this summer.

Ingredients for the Red Lentil Potato Dal:  

1 tablespoon of cumin seeds

1 medium onion, diced

1 cloves of garlic, pressed or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger

2 cups of diced potatoes, or chopped how you like it

1 cup of red lentils, washed and drained

1 teaspoon of salt

cracked pepper to taste

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon of ground cumin powder

1/8 teaspoon of curry powder 

4 cups of water 

2 tablespoons vegetable bouillon powder

Optional: hot pepper of your choice

Directions: 

Sauté onion, ginger, cumin seeds in a wide rimmed skillet in a little water, or oil if you prefer, for 5 minutes stirring. Add chopped potatoes and coat and stir for 1 minute. Add red lentils, turmeric, pepper, cumin powder, curry powder, salt, water and bouillon. Stir, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover and cook for 25 minutes until potatoes are soft. Serve over cooked quinoa or rice.

My Notes: 

1. You could add jalapeño peppers or any hot pepper while cooking if you like it hot!! I don't... 

2. Use vegetable broth instead of water and bouillon powder.

3. Everything in this meal is gluten-free

I used a julienne peeler to grate the vegetables in a jiffy. 

It was called ReNext Multifunction Stainless... and it works great. 

Disclaimer: I am an affiliate for Amazon. If you click on a link and go to Amazon and you make a qualified purchase on Amazon- I will get a small commission. 

One Pot Tofu Recipe | Easy Vegan Skillet Dinner

                                                                                        

This one-pot tofu skillet dinner has become a favorite in our house because it's simple, hearty, and incredibly versatile. You can make it with rice or quinoa, depending on what you have on hand, and it's also an easy way to use up whatever vegetables are in your refrigerator. It's not the prettiest or most photogenic dish I'll admit. 

Fireworks and a Big Storm

A Quick Fireworks Show—and an Even Quicker Dash to the Car

How was your Fourth of July weekend? Ours was pretty quiet, but we still managed to get out and enjoy a little holiday fun.

On the Fourth, we headed over to watch the fireworks at Sesame Place in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Instead of dealing with the crowds inside the park, we joined hundreds of other people who had the same idea—parking in the shopping center across the street. Everyone unloaded their lawn chairs and lined the edges of the parking lot, settling in for the show.

Easy Vegan Potato Salad With Fresh Pesto

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If you're looking for a fresh twist on traditional potato salad, this easy vegan potato salad is one recipe you'll want to make all summer long. Instead of a heavy mayonnaise dressing, tender potatoes are tossed in a homemade basil and cilantro (or parsley) pesto that is bursting with robust flavor.

IN MY KITCHEN - JULY 2026

What's In My Kitchen This Month? 

Lots of produce from the local farmers market. 

The farner's market has officially opened for the season, and I couldn't be more excited. There are about eight local farmers who participate—including three certified organic farms—it's the perfect place to stock up on fresh, seasonal produce.

There is simply no comparison between vegetables that were picked that morning and those that have traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach the grocery store. Freshly grown and picked produce is bursting with flavor, and because it's so fresh, it also retains more of its nutrients and lasts much longer.

The market is held every Saturday morning, nestled in the countryside about 20 minutes from my house. I never know exactly what I'll find. Every week brings something new as different fruits and vegetables come into season.

This week's haul included crisp cucumbers, leafy greens, bok choy, celery, cabbage, fresh herbs such as cilantro and dill, zucchini, dandelion greens, onions, and red potatoes. 

Of course, bringing home all that fresh produce means I'll have to spend some time prepping it and cooking it. 

I like to wash everything as soon as I get home. Some weeks I'll prep individual salad jars for easy lunches. Other times I simply wash and dry everything before storing it in reusable produce bags or containers. Spending a little time upfront makes healthy eating much easier during the busy week.

One thing I discovered this weekend was that my deck makes the perfect produce prep station! Instead of covering my kitchen counters and floor with dirt, leaves, and water, I carried everything outside and worked on my outdoor patio table. It's easier to hose down the deck than have to wash the kitchen floor. 

I washed, sorted, and trimmed my vegetables while enjoying the fresh air, and when I was finished, cleanup was incredibly easy. No muddy kitchen floor to mop afterward!

There's something satisfying about opening the refrigerator and seeing it filled with colorful, fresh produce that's washed, prepped, and ready to use. It inspires me to eat more vegetables, try new recipes, and make the most of everything that's in season.

I made a potato salad with pesto using the potatoes and herbs which I will be sharing the recipe soon.

New Serving Spoons

 Do you shop at your local farmer's market? When you get home, do you wash and prep everything right away, or wait until you're ready to use it? 

Joining Sherry at Sherry's Pickings for her monthly IN MYKITCHEN blogger's share. Anyone can join in .