Welcome to Dane Dane's Kitchen! I'm Dana, known affectionately by some as Dane Dane. After living numerous places around the world, I have experienced all kinds of cuisine and often integrate it into my family's daily meals. I generally don't use many recipes but cook from sight, feel, taste and texture. It's always frustrating when people ask for a recipe and I can't really give them the exacts. So, I've tried to work some of our favorites into something to share. If you see something that interests you, join in, put your own spin on it, have fun and enjoy food!

Coco Butternut Soup

Need an easy soup fast? This is it and delicious too! One bowl won't be enough.

1 med. butternut squash
1 can light coconut milk
1 lg. onion/minced
1 TBS minced garlic
1 TBS cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. corriander
1 TBS. olive oil

Possible toppings: danish feta cheese and real bacon bits!

Half butternut squash and bake on a lighty greased sheet at about 350F, until soft. Remove the seeds, spoon out the flesh and puree in a blender. Pour in the coconut milk and blend until smooth, then set aside. Brown the minced onion and garlic in olive oil, then add the butternut mixture. Cook over a low heat, adding the spices.

Top each bowl of soup with feta cheese and bacon bits.

Cinnamon Spiced Cream Enchiladas

Wowzer! This ain't your traditional enchilada and it is out of this world! When I saw this recipe by Chef Aaron Sanchez, I knew it was a must try. My family wasn't disappointed! THE FILLING CONSISTS OF BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SAUSAGE, TOPPED WITH A CINNAMON CREAM SAUCE.Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo before everyone dove into it. I have adapted the recipe with products available where I live and to our taste. The original calls for Chorizo sausage, of which I am not a fan.

Sauce:
1/4 cup butter
5 TBS flour
3 cups beef broth
2 TBS chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp. brown sugar
1 1/2 cup full cream

Filling
1 lb sausage of choice (I used chili chicken sausage)
1 med butternut/baked and meat removed and pureed

Topping
shredded cheddar cheese
12-16 tortillas/flour or corn

Melt butter in saucepan and whisk in flour, it should form a thick smooth paste. Slowly whisk in the broth, then the other ingredients, leaving the cream until later. Let cook on low to med. heat until it begins thickening like gravy. Let it cool then mix in the cream.

Cut the butternut squash into quarters and bake at 350F for about 45min, on an oiled baking dish. If in a hurry, you can microwave it with a bit of water in your dish. Scoop it out when its soft and puree after removing the seeds.

Brown the sausage in a skillet. If it is link sausage, slice it thinly lengthwise and into smaller pieces. Add the squash to the sausage.

Spread some of the cinnamon sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. Fill the tortillas with the sausage/squash mixture and roll them if you like, placing them into a baking dish. (I WAS LAZY AND LAYERED THEM LIKE A LASAGNA. BUT THEN AGAIN, I MADE MY OWN TORTILLAS AND WAS TIRED)

Pour the cinnamon sauce over the enchiladas and top with cheese. Bake at 375F until brown and bubbly. SERVE WITH CHIPS AND SALSA! WE ENJOY MANGO SALSA. I'LL POST THAT RECIPE SOON. ENJOY!

Raspberry Avocado Salad



2 large avocados/diced
1 medium purple onion/diced or in rings
1/3 Cup Danish Feta Cheese/crumbled
2 TBS. white wine vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp minced garlic
2 TBS raspberry jam
1 TBS olive oil
1 TBS lime juice

Combine avocados, onion, garlic and feta cheese. Whisk the remaining ingredients and pour it over the mixture. Enjoy chilled.