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I love soup. It's just so simple, yet so satisfying. I love puttering around the house on a Sunday afternoon, spending time with family and making a big pot of soup, especially on a chilly day. One of my recent favorites comes from Vegetable Soups from Deborah Madison's Kitchen
, a birthday gift from a dear friend. It's infused with pears and ginger, without being too spicy, and is low in fat while offering up a serving of yellow veggies. My daughter loves to help me make this velvety soup. Here's my version of Deborah's delicious creation:Roasted Squash, Pear, and Ginger Soup
One 2 1/2 # Butternut Squash
3 ripe but firm pears, quartered and seeded (or apples)
1 chunk fresh ginger, about 2" long, thinly sliced
olive oil
sea salt
2 T butter
1 onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup creme fraiche or plain yogurt (whole milk is to die for!)
1 t cinnamon
1 star anise
Preheat the oven to 425F. Cut the squash in half, scrape out the seeds, then cut each half into thirds (DON'T peel). Put the squash pieces on a large baking sheet that's been covered with foil. Add the pears and all but a few slices of the ginger. Toss gently with olive oil, season with salt and bake until fragrant and tender, about 40 minutes to an hour. Turn pieces once or twice so they can caramelize on each side (this gives them a sweet yumminess). Transfer to a bowl, and let cool. Once cool, scrape the flesh from the squash skins. You should have about 2 cups.
To make stock, bring 6 cups of water to a boil and add the star anise, the squash seeds and skins, the remaining ginger and 1/2 t salt. Lower heat and let simmer, covered, for 20 - 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in the soup pot. Add the onion, give it a stir, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown and is fragrant (about 10 minutes). Add the pears, ginger, cinnamon and squash. Strain the stock into the pot. Bring all to a boil, then lower heat and simmer, covered, for 25 minutes. Cool briefly, then puree until velvety smooth in a blender or with a food mill. Serve as is, or swirl with creme fraiche or yogurt and add another sprinkling of cinnamon.
* For an extra special treat, dice an apple or pear, sprinkle with a little sugar, and caramelize in a little butter to make "croutons" for this delightful, silky soup.
At 
Not all baby carries are created equal. Some are great for moms, while others get a nod of approval from the dads. The 
and also available at select Wal-Mart stores.
Oooh, I am so excited! 
My son's first pair of shoes were 
We mamas know what it's like to be pressed for time. On those days when we're trying to get out the door in a flash, we need makeup that works with us (even if our kids won't). When you need a bit of natural-looking polish, here are the bare-bones essentials to keep you from looking like you just rolled out of bed:
, Kathryn offers up some great advice, starting with your budget. She advocates really getting down to business when it comes to the numbers, and knowing what's truly going to work for your household. Once that's determined, then comes the fun.
Prego mamas are always being told to watch what they eat. Now they can get their essential nutrients while satisfying their cravings for something sweet, without overindulging.
What you wear speaks volumes about who you are. When expressing your own personal style, add a chic dash of wit and wisdom with these saucy 
When we first received our 
Our skin is the largest of our organs, so how we treat it really matters. When we don't take the time to cleanse our faces after a long day of chasing kids, driving carpool, working out or just plain working, we leave not only make-up behind, but dirt, sweat and bacteria. When these are left to ferment and fester, flare-ups (or worse) can happen. So after a long day, take a moment to wash your face. It'll leave you feeling clean and give you a quick pick-me-up.
Being a mom seems like it's just synonomous with feeling frantic. I feel as if I'm "on" 24/7, and even when I'm not rushing around, my brain's on overdrive. So when it comes to dinnertime, even this mom who loves to cook is sometimes baffled. It's 5:45, is there something to eat besides a frozen pizza or chicken nuggets? If you've been following Mary Jo Rulnick's strategy outlined in 
Attention all you writers out there! Christine, over at 
Special occasions in our lives serve to mark major milestones and create treasured memories. Pictures document the occasion, but sometimes you want something a little more to help your friends and loved ones recall a particular event. It's for times like these that 
Do you remember all your computer passwords and login Id's? It seems almost every website I visit wants me to sign in and create a user ID and password. This is fine for the first visit, but when I want to visit again, I am often stumped for these tidbits of personal information. Typically, my passwords are slight variations on each other, to keep it secure yet somewhat familiar, but just enough so that I can't remember exactly which one I used for which site. Ah, the frustration...
. I love Audrey Hepburn and her easygoing, classic style, and this period of fashion, the "new look" for women was one to remember. This pocket sized book (just $9.95) is perfect for tossing into your purse or laptop bag, or easily stashing in your desk drawer, to keep your passwords close at hand. Just write each password/login ID under the corresponding letter (for example, Amazon.com would go under "A"). Just make sure you keep it safe, free from little hands, and somewhere you can find it when you need it!
By now, most of you have probably already heard about 
