Big sisters have a very important job to do in this world. It is their mission to pave the way for their little sisters, teaching them the ropes and ensuring that they do not stumble through life’s little land mines along the way. My big sister taught me where babies come from, (I didn’t believe her!), how to shave my legs, and, with instructions whispered through a locked bathroom door, how to use tampons. She taught me how to hide cigarettes from our mom as well as how to sneak out of the house, late at night, when boys came calling, by throwing pebbles at our basement bedroom window. Sadly, I never had to use that last one. I was a late bloomer and the boys only came for her!
Now that we’re all grown up, she is still passing on lots of valuable lessons. She works for the popular blog, “Yummy Mummy” and is quite knowledgeable about the business side of running a blog. She is always going on about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and how important it is for my blog. SEO is the practice of improving and promoting a web site in order to increase the number of visitors the site receives from search engines.
She explained that the title of your blog posts is of utmost importance. Beginning the post title with a number assists in making the post’s content more actionable. It also reassures those readers, whose attention span matches that of a gnat, that they can scan through your list post quickly if needed. My sister also emphasized the need to use exciting adjectives that promise audacious results.
As I was writing this post, I thought about some of her tips and tried to put them into action. “Seven mind blowing ways to roast winter squash.” Or, “Four essential steps to cutting squash without hacking off your finger.” (On that note, check out this very helpful video on cutting winter squash) Somehow, they just seemed too sensationalist, and not really very “me.” However, I do promise you a delicious squash salad, that while perhaps not exactly mind blowing, will make dinner time at your house a very happy place to be.
I was inspired to make something with winter squash after a visit to my neighbourhood Farm Boy store. If you don’t have Farm Boy in your city, I am just a little bit sad for you. Entering the store you are heartily greeted by a life-size animatronic singing Farm Boy and his dog Barndoor Buddy. (Not sure if it’s just me, but some days it feels like he’s mocking me!) Perched in the produce section, resides a mischievous monkey who performs endless backflips over the banana display. Rounding the corner into the dairy section, you will encounter Lulu the cow who moos every time you open the dairy case to get milk and Rusty, a crowing rooster, standing guard over the eggs. My kids and I spent a lot of time there when they were little. It was the lazy mom’s version of taking your kids to the petting zoo. And, it had the added bonus of not stinking like a zoo.
The produce bins were overflowing with a myriad of winter squash. Unable to decide what to get, I excitedly filled my cart with about 35 pounds of assorted varieties. As the cashier was ringing me through, her curiosity got the best of her. She just had to know what I was going to do with all these squash. When I told her I was going to take their picture she looked at me like I was a bit crazy. And yes, perhaps you might agree, when I confess that I spent the better part of a very happy afternoon, arranging squash.
Click here to print recipe for Winter Squash and Arugula Salad.
Sigh. Now I am sad that I don’t have a neighborhood Farmboy. My boring grocery store pipes in music (Christmas carols will begin any day now!) rather than greeting me with animatronics or joyful crows and moos. Unless you count the recording of thunder and a downpour every time the produce is automatically sprayed, it is not field trip material. SEO also makes me sigh, though I do have a sensational vocabulary idea for this colorful fall salad. As you probably know, the British word for arugula is rocket. Don’t you think a Rocket Salad sounds like something about to take off?! Readers will click through just to find out what the heck a Rocket salad is, then they will see your photos and will be hooked. The next thing you know, just like me, they will all be off to their anamatronic-free grocery stores to stock up on winter squash and arugula. 🙂
Wendy, I love the idea of renaming the arugula salad “Rocket Salad.” You always leave me the best comments.
Re: spraying the produce, that is a huge pet peeve of mine. It creates too much moisture and the lettuces and other tender produce rot!
Gorgeous!! This looks awesome and so perfect for fall. 🙂
This salad looks super delicious.. loving all the fresh flavours and vibrant colours! I have never added pomegrante seeds to a salad before, definitely something that I need to do next time. Great recipe!
Thanks Thalia. The pom seeds add a bit of crunch and some tart/sweetness.
Definitely going with you to Farm Boy on my next visit. A life-size animatronic singing Farm Boy and his dog Barndoor Buddy, a Monkey in the Banana display & a mooing cow fridge!!! We know how to have a good time! Who cares about not staying out late with the boys, we made our own good times & we both married wonderful ones! xo
LOL – So happy to have helped you with all of those valuable life lessons when we were young!
And happy to continue to pass on valuable information to you like SEO….I like Wendy’s suggestion of Rocket Salad – but for SEO it would be more like 5 Easy Steps to Make Your Rocket Salad Take Off – or something like that?
FYI – Our editors change 98% of the titles that the bloggers submit for better SEO.
As usual your recipe looks so yummy and your photos are stunning! And I wish we had a Farmboy where we live!
xo
P.S. when I started reading the post I was expecting to see the little bowls. I was in the Cookery the other day and they just had some adorable polka dot ones come in – soooo cute:).
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This looks great! I love all the fall flavours!
Thanks Millie. Glad you stopped by and commented.
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