Squash It! E-Z Squash Recipes

Ohhhh – the flavors and foods of fall! Gotta love it! Right now there’s an abundance of Acorn and Spaghetti squash. Both are chock full of Vitamins such as C, B6 plus calcium and more! And here’s the even better news – they are super easy to cook!

E-Z ACORN SQUASH (featured in photo)

Slice an acorn squash in half lengthwise.

Scrape out the membrane/seeds & discard.

Prick each half with a knife or fork.

Brush olive oil on each half, then salt and pepper to taste.

Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 35 min. to 50 minutes (depending on size of squash and your oven).

Bake squash until it is very soft and easy to scoop out with a spoon.

When it’s done, serve it as is – without even scooping it out of the shell! Perfect for 2 people.

Or scoop it out and serve as a side dish (serves 2-3)

Optional: Instead of Olive oil, you can brush with butter, but olive oil tastes great and is healthier.

Dress it Up: Add some grated parmesan cheese and/or bread crumbs when squash is done. Continue baking (a few minutes) until the cheese is melted and bread crumbs are toasted.

E-Z SPAGHETTI SQUASH:

Once this squash is thoroughly baked, it has a stringy spaghetti-type consistency. Free-style the cooked squash with your favorite toppings. Here’s my two personal favorites:

Slice the squash in half lengthwise.

Scrape out the membrane/seeds & discard.

Brush olive oil (or butter) on each half, then salt and pepper to taste.

Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 35 to 45 minutes (depends on size of squash and your oven).

Bake squash until it is very soft and easy to scoop out with a spoon.

When the squash is done, scoop it out and serve as is OR DRESS IT UP BY:   heating up marinara sauce, spaghetti sauce or chili and let everyone top their own squash. Optional: Cheese (grated parmesan for red sauce, grated cheddar with chili) Serves 2-4.

FOR A SERVING FOR 2:

When squash is almost done, add marina, spaghetti sauce or chili into each half. Optional: top with cheese. Continue baking until the sauce is cooked through and cheese is melted. For 2 people, it’s perfect to also serve this in the shell.

Both recipes go great with a tossed salad and some warm crusty bread or garlic bread.

These base recipes are perfect for free-styling. Come up with your own blend of spices, seasonings and/or toppings.

FALL DECORATING TIP: Any cute vase such as the owl in this post, can be easily dressed up for the fall/Thanksgiving season. My owl vase (see photo) features a mix of dried foliage (some from my backyard) and artificial foliage as well.