Butternut Squash Risotto

Otto's getting big!  He's the size of a butternut squash this week, but (much like sweet potatoes in Week 18) I don't like butternut squash.  But I found a recipe for butternut squash risotto that looked pretty decent, so I gave that a shot.  I served it alongside some chicken for dinner last night.  It wasn't too difficult a recipe, but MJ's reaction was, "Eh."  I had to agree with him!  It just wasn't anything special.

But there was so much leftover butternut squash that I didn't want to waste it.  I found another recipe that I thought would be good:  butternut squash muffins.  Unfortunately, they turned out even worse!  Although I cooked them exactly as the recipe said, the first batch came out very wet in the middle.  Assuming I'd undercooked them, I kept the second batch in longer.  I kept testing them with a toothpick, and after twenty additional minutes, I gave up.  These muffins would never be bready and firm in the middle, the way a muffin should be.  Perhaps I added too much squash?  We will never know.  But MJ and I were left with about 15 small, dense, wet muffins that were promptly discarded.  I didn't even bother taking a picture!

On the bright side, Otto is presumably "cooking" better than my muffins.  All five of his senses are functioning now!  Also, all his body systems are fully developed at this point, with the exception of his lungs -- they need a few more weeks before he's ready to breathe out here on his own.  He weighs about 3.5 pounds, and his movements feel more like "squirming" rather than kicks and punches (because he's getting crowded in there!).