Preparing Winter Squash
Just what are you supposed to do with all that squash in the market? Follow our tips for making these cold-weather delicacies shine. Traditions. Cut in half, covered in brown sugar, and baked. There's a good reason this is such a common recipe--it's delicious. The brown sugar ( maple syrup or molasses can be substituted) caramelizes in the oven and creates a great counterpoint to the mellow, creamy squash. Plus, baked this way, the shell makes its own serving tray! Peel away. If you aren't baking the squash in halves, you'll have to peel it--and that's much easier said than done. It's possible to use a regular peeler or a paring knife, but you can make it much easier with the right tools. Y-shaped peelers are more efficient, especially if they have a serrated edge; these are better for cutting through the thick squash skin. Radar love. Hard winter squash can take a long time to cook. That's when the microwave really becomes a useful tool. If the squash is cooked in large pieces, mashed, or baked, speed things up by starting the process in the microwave. Split them in half, par-cook in the microwave, and then dice, mash, or continue roasting in the oven. What's what? Butternut squash gets all the press, but the other winter squashes deserve attention too. Spaghetti squash is fun and versatile. Just bake it, separate into "strands" of spaghetti, then toss with sauce, use in a lasagna, or saute with mushrooms. Acorn, butternut, and delicata squash are all good when peeled, diced small, and sauteed. This way they can be part of a risotto, a stir-fry, or most any side dish. List of 2 items . How To Cook Winter Squash . Seasonal Cooking--Fall list end ADVERTISEMENT dd/Entertaining_120x90 Tips and Advice! Beyond recipes and cooking, Allrecipes provides you with useful information on holiday entertaining, healthy living, and even budgeting! . Tips and Advice Hash Food Lovers' Trivia Tidbit A hash is a dish of finely chopped meat (roast beef and corned beef are the most common), potatoes, and seasonings, usually fried together until lightly browned. Other chopped vegetables, such as green pepper, celery, and onion, can also be added. Hash is sometimes served with gravy or sauce. Winter Vegetable Hash Editors' Recipe Picks! These recipes show the range of taste that winter squash has. Try them as part of main dish, as a side, or even on pizza. Squash Stuffed Chicken Breasts Submitted By: Le Ann Braswell Vegetables, cheese, and your favorite squash--acorn, butternut, or even pumpkin--make a nutritious filling for chicken that also happens to taste terrific. Country Fried Squash Submitted By: Maryanne Simple comfort food. Fresh butternut squash cut into thick slices, dipped in an egg milk batter, and dredged in cornmeal and flour. They fry golden, fragrant, and delicious. Roasted Vegetables Submitted By: Saundra A casserole dish of seasonal vegetables that is so easy to prepare. It can be made a day ahead--just reheat before serving. Lemon juice can be substituted for balsamic vinegar, and any winter squash will work, too. Butternut Squash Pizzas with Rosemary Submitted By: dakota kelly Individual 'pizzettes' with roasted onions and butternut squash, seasoned with rosemary, and finished with Parmesan or Asiago cheese. small/41998 List of 4 items Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 30 Minutes Ready In: 50 Minutes Yields: 4 servings list end INGREDIENTS List of 8 items 1 cup thinly sliced onion 1/2 butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary salt and black pepper to taste 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 (16 ounce) package refrigerated pizza crust dough 1 tablespoon cornmeal 2 tablespoons grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese list end DIRECTIONS List of 3 items 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Place sliced onion and squash in a roasting pan. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil; toss to coat. 2. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until onions are lightly browned and squash is tender; set aside. 3. Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). On a floured surface, roll each ball of dough into an 8 inch round. Place the rounds on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal (you may need 2 baking sheets depending on their size). Distribute squash mixture over the two rounds and continue baking for 10 minutes, checking occasionally, or until the crust is firm. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining tablespoon olive oil. Cut into quarters, and serve. Sugar Syl says: Good friends are like stars ... you don't always see them, but you know they're always there. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
