Winter Squash

Recently have been getting some acorn, butternut, and buttercup squash and have been trying to find ways to use it. When it is nice to grill outside, I’ll just clean a squash, throw some walnuts and syrup in the cavity and set it down by the coals.

Recently I’ve been finding uses for the leftovers. I’ve had some success with some pumpkin pancakes, but they still are a bit thick and stick to the pan. The simplest use I’ve found is to just have some mashed up and top some oatmeal with nutmeg and cinnamon in the morning. Still trying to find new uses for it though other than making pie. Anyway, here is what I made for Monday’s breakfast.

Squash cornbread

In  bowl add and mix
1 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
2/3 C Fine Cornmeal/Corn Flour
2/3 C All Purpose Flour

Separately mix and blend until smooth
1/4 C Milk
1/4 C Yogurt or Sour Cream
1-4 Tbs. Oil or Butter
1C Cooked, Mashed squash
1 Large Egg
Cinnamon
Nutmeg

Heat oven to 425°F

I usually liberally grease/ oil a cast iron skillet and pour off/remove the excess and add it to the liquid ingredients.
Pour liquid into dry ingredients and stir until ingredients are moist. Pour into greased 8" ovenproof skillet (or equivalent pan) and bake. Check at 20-25 minutes with tooth pick until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.

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So any other ideas? I have a feeling I'll end up with at least some leftover pumpkin after Thanksgiving.

If you make you own pasta, butternut raviolis are the bomb.
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/09/01/recipe-butternut-squash-ravioli/

Butternut squash mac and cheese is easy, and delicious.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/butternut-squash-mac-and-cheese-recipe/index.html

Soup n sandwich
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/squash-soup-recipe/index.html

adjust to taste

Butternut makes truly excellent soup

Here’s my current favorite:

1-3 butternut or acorn squash
2-3 apples (I like firm tart apples like granny smith, mac, or staymen)
1 lb sage sausage

several pats butter
brown sugar

Halve the squash and cook (an hour or so in a 350 deg oven or in a microwave) till soft
While the squash is cooking, brown the sausage thoroughly, breaking it up into small bits
drain however much fat you want to drain
peel and dice the apples and add them to the squash, cooking till the flavors have blended but not till the apple gets soft

scoop the squash out and mix it up with the sausage/apple mixture
put in a baking dish; dot the top with butter and sprinkle with brown sugar
bake at 350 till warmed through and butter melts and brown sugar makes a nice glaze.