Thanks again farmerdilla - so I'm guessing this unfamiliar and charming candy-striped squash pictured is an example of C. mixta, cushaw type? I don't know about commercial offerings but was raised eating scratch-built pies made from "cheese pumpkins" which are cinderella-shaped but butternut-colored. Since leaving the garden state I've had progressively more trouble, even through farmers markets coast to coast, obtaining pumpkins or squash tasty enough to satisfy those pie cravings. A couple years ago I grew Marina di Chioggia that were excellent for pie and that's how they were consumed, for some reason the plants all disappeared this year. Maybe the handsome warty Thai squash will find it's way into a piecrust this year!

The really high end, acorn fed Iberico was expensive even in Spain. I never actually tasted it. But serrano I had often in restaurants; typically used as a garnish. I'd "settle" for that, as my tastebuds can't clamor for the other that I have never tasted. ;) I recently saw in Sam's Club a assortment package of meats that had serrano in it. But I didn't want the others, which were sliced sausage. I don't eat sausage, though who knows: maybe those were wonderful.

The "Key Lime Pie" is so much prettier than it shows in my pics. It truly is a greyed sage. No blue undertones at all. It's a Dutch Boy paint. I used the old formula, DC186, with an "eggshell" finish in their Dimensions line. Two coats of paint was beautiful, but being the OCD person I am, I used three. I get obsessive with painting. I wash and prime everything, and tape off ceilings and floors and spend far more time "preparing" than actually "painting." Their new chips show "Key Lime Pie" as DC429. It seems to be half-a-hair lighter, maybe, but just as beautiful. Depending on our new furniture, I'm using it in this new/old living room too. Some of my friends scoffed at the less expensive Dutch Boy paint, but I love it. It goes on beautifully; and washes like a dream. I have two, huge, rambunctious, playful hunting dogs that live in the house. I wipe up their nose and paw prints, toy marks, and bumps and scuffs with a wet rag and the paint is still beautiful. The "Lilac Vapor" (eggshell) is also a Dutch Boy paint, DC024. Lemon Curd is DC006; I used a semi-gloss in the base kitchen. The "Sawdust" (eggshell) laundry room is a Pittsburgh paint, Morning Light Collection, 16A-3. The bedroom's "Safari" is also a Pittsburgh color but I can't find the chip. It has a noticeable yellow undertone. The "Picnic T@ble" red, MS003, and "Spool," beige, MS093, are both old Martha Stewart formulas in Valspar paint. If I have a choice between Valspar and Dutch Boy, or Dutch Boy and Benjamin Moore, Dutch Boy Dimensions wins every time. I didn't like anything about the Valspar paint except for the colors. Next time I'll mix them in the DB Dimensions base.

A Corned Beef Special..a sandwich sold in every deli in this part of the country. I had one for lunch yesterday. Corned beef on deli rye(not pre-sliced in a plastic bag), with russian dressing schmered on the bread, between this, a mound of thin sliced cold corned beef, topped with cole slaw. Great with a Dr Brown's cream soda.