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The Basics: Roasted Butternut Squash

partysugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:00:24 -0700

One of my favorite Fall ingredients is butternut squash. It's incredibly versatile and lends an autumnal, pumpkin-ish flavor to everything from salad to soup to macaroni and cheese. Unlike the seasonal produce of Summer, many cold-weather vegetables can not be enjoyed raw. However, once you know the simple steps to roasting butternut squash you can put it to use in just about anything.

The roasted chunks can be tossed with arugula and white beans. Or, blitz the squash in a food processor and use the puree to make lasagna. Not only are there unlimited ways to cook with roasted squash, there are also plenty of ways to season it. Fresh sage, thyme, or rosemary add an earthiness to the squash, while honey or maple syrup caramelizes the flesh. Doesn't experimenting with different flavorings and preparations sound like fun? To get started, check out my basic recipe for roasted squash.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Italian-Style Spaghetti Squash

partysugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:50:13 -0700

If you've never cooked with spaghetti squash, I highly recommend you give it a try. Once it's roasted in the oven, the flesh comes off in strands that resemble spaghetti. Treat it as you would pasta and toss with a simple vegetable saute and you've got a carb-free, vegetarian-friendly meal. This recipe is highly versatile, so sub in whatever veggies you have on hand; mushrooms, peppers, even a green like kale would be delicious. Check it out now.

Is It a Tomato or Squash?

partysugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:50:28 -0700

In terms of produce, the end of September is a time that straddles Summer and Fall. Late-season heirloom tomatoes are juicy and plump, while early-season butternut squash are way too tempting. To celebrate the plethora of produce that can be found in markets, I've put together this fun quiz. I'll list a variety of tomato or squash and you tell me which it is. Ready, set, go!

Source: Flickr User nim

Take the quiz

Monday's Leftovers: Pinto Bean Molé Chili

YumSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:50:19 -0700

For dinner tonight, I'm continuing yesterday's veggie streak, making a molé-flavored chili that's so complex, no one will even realize it's a meatless Monday. I'll start with onions and garlic, add in a ground mixture with chiles, cumin, cinnamon, and other seasonings, and then stir in a bounty of leftover yellow squash, kale, tomatoes, and chocolate for an extra-roasted taste. Unlike most molé dishes, I'll be able to serve it in under an hour. To make this your next homestyle meal, read more

Yummy Links: From Ted Allen to Heart-Shaped Watermelons

partysugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:30:08 -0700

Ted Allen chats about Chopped. - Endless Simmer
Check out photographer Dominic Episcipo United States of Meat series. - Eat Me Daily
What to do when a party starts to die. - Chow
Anthony Bourdain admits he is a bad New Yorker. - Grub Street
Shake Shack - the beloved New York City burger joint, has plans to expand in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. - Eater
How to impress guests with squash. - The Atlantic
Do you enjoy chicken on pizza? - The Epi-Log
In Japan, you can now purchase heart-shaped watermelon. - Serious Eats

Chilled Zucchini Soup Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:50:49 -0700

I'm a major supporter of soup, and believe in eating it year-round, regardless of the weather. Yet I know how some of you can't bear to steam up sun shades with bowls of hot liquid in the Summer. If you fall into the latter category, chilled zucchini soup, with its creamy body and subtle flavor, is just the thing to talk you off the ledge. Add a quick course to the dinner menu when you blend together zucchini, broth, dill, and shredded cheese - or transform it into more of a substantial meal by topping off bowls with cumin-spiced shrimp and tangy cilantro cream. Decide between the two when you read more

Fast & Easy Dinner: Pressed Chicken With Tomatoes

partysugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:00:10 -0700

Start your weekend tonight with an elegant, effortless chicken dinner. Pressing the meat with a weighted pan ensures a crispy crust on the outside and an intensely juicy interior. After the chicken is cooked, tomatoes, garlic, and yellow squash are sautéed in the poultry's flavorful juices.

The recipe calls for fresh marjoram, but if you don't have access to this herb, substitute fresh oregano. A simple green salad with a tangy red-wine vinaigrette is a nice accompaniment. To serve this with a chilled glass of rosé, you'll need the recipe. Get it now and read more.

Pressed Chicken With Tomatoes
From Gourmet

Ingredients

4 chicken breast halves with skin and bone (2 to 2 1/4 pounds)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 pound yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 pound tomatoes, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3 teaspoons chopped marjoram, divided

Directions

Pat chicken dry and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
Add chicken, skin side down. Cover with a round of parchment paper, then a heavy pot or skillet, followed by a 3- to 5-pound weight (such as two 32-ounce cans or a brick wrapped in foil). Cook 10 minutes, then remove weight, pot, and parchment.
Turn chicken over and re-cover with a clean round of parchment, pot, and weight, then cook until just cooked through, about 8 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate and keep warm, covered.
Add squash, tomatoes, garlic, 2 teaspoons marjoram, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to fat in skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until squash is just tender and tomatoes have become saucy, 6 to 8 minutes.
Stir in any juices from plate and season with salt and pepper. Spoon over chicken.
Sprinkle chicken and vegetables with remaining teaspoon marjoram.

Serves 4.

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Monday's Leftovers: Pappardelle With Squash & Spinach

YumSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:50:00 -0700

If you're looking for a way to use leftover butternut squash or homemade pappardelle, consider this mouthwatering recipe.

It's nutritious, with cubes of butternut squash and tender leaves of baby spinach. Sage and shiitakes lend a subtle earthiness, which is complemented by a nutty element from browned butter and parmesan cheese.

To enjoy this fresh pasta dish, read more.

Pappardelle With Squash & Spinach
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

12 ounces pappardelle or fettuccine pasta
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, divided
3 cups 1/2-inch cubes butternut squash (from 1-pound squash)
8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
1 5- to 6-ounce package baby spinach
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
Meanwhile, melt 1/4 cup butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add squash and cook until almost tender, stirring often, about 6 minutes.
Add mushrooms, sage, and remaining 1/4 cup butter; sauté until mushrooms are soft and squash is tender, about 8 minutes.
Add spinach; stir until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
Add pasta to sauce in skillet. Toss to coat, adding pasta cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls if dry. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese.

Serves 4.

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Sunday Slow Cooker: Vegetable Stew With Dumplings

YumSugar — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:00:33 -0700

Hand me any soup with dumplings, and I'll devour it; I simply love them that much. Not quite bread, not quite noodle, dumplings are the perfect chewy bite of comfort - especially when served with a myriad of different vegetables.

Aside from the slow cooker doing all the work, and the delectable dumpling aspect, the beauty of this dish is its versatility: substitute zucchini for green beans, or fresh, in-season morels for cremini mushrooms. To make a variation that you love in your slow cooker, read more.

Vegetable Stew With Cornmeal Dumplings
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

3 cups peeled butternut or acorn squash cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
2 14-1/2-ounce cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 15-ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup water
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon snipped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 9-ounce package frozen Italian green beans or frozen cut green beans
Paprika

Directions

In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine squash, mushrooms, undrained tomatoes, Great Northern beans, the water, garlic, Italian seasoning, and pepper.
Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.
For dumplings: In a medium bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, Parmesan cheese, parsley, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, milk, and oil. Add to the flour mixture; stir with a fork just until combined.
If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting. Stir frozen green beans into stew. Drop the dumpling dough into six mounds on top of the stew. Sprinkle with paprika. Cover and cook for 50 minutes more. (Do not lift lid while dumplings are cooking.)

Serves 6.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 288, Total Fat 7g, Saturated Fat 2g, Cholesterol 37mg, Sodium 442mg, Carbohydrate 45g, Fiber 7g, Protein 12g,

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Butternut Squash Panzanella

YumSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:45:45 -0800

Bread salad is a popular Summer dish, but that doesn't mean it can't be modified for Fall. Instead of the classic tomatoes and basil, this recipe calls for a more seasonal butternut squash and sage. To cut down kitchen prep, bake the butternut squash and the bread ahead of time. To get this comfort recipe, read more.

Butternut Squash Panzanella Salad
From Whole Foods

Ingredients

4 cups (1-inch) cubes peeled and seeded butternut squash
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons capers, drained
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
Pepper to taste
4 cups (1-inch) cubes baguette or other crusty bread
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped sage
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
4 to 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
Queso fresco or feta cheese, crumbled (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven.
In a large bowl, toss together squash, 1 tablespoon of the oil, capers, garlic and pepper.
Transfer to a large baking sheet and bake, tossing occasionally, until tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss together bread, 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil, sage and salt. Transfer to a second large baking sheet and bake, tossing halfway through, until toasted and golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Set both squash and bread aside as done to let cool to room temperature.
In a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, zest, vinegar, remaining 3 tablespoons oil, salt and pepper to make a dressing. Add lettuce, onions, squash and bread and toss gently to coat. Transfer to plates, top with cheese (if using) and serve immediately.

Serves 4 to 6.

Nutrition per serving (about 9oz/242g-wt.): 290 calories (150 from fat), 17g total fat, 3g saturated fat, 5mg cholesterol, 610mg sodium, 32g total carbohydrate (4g dietary fiber, 5g sugar), 6g protein

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