Friday, August 27, 2021

I Wish I Had Known ...

 ... that vegetables could taste like this! 


John has never grown acorn squash before, but Justin's girlfriend saved some seeds last year and asked him to plant some this year. He got tired of the vines taking over the garden and producing very little, so he picked all of them (five or six), dumped them in the kitchen, and went back out to tear the vines out of the garden.

I had planned on turning the oven on to do some chicken thighs anyway, so I searched "how to roast acorn squash". When almost every recipe said "add some butter, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, and put them in the oven for an hour", I decided I could do this. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy vegetables, but if they've got brown sugar and cinnamon on them, even better!


And they were good enough that I ate three acorn squash halves and no chicken. It tastes almost like pumpkin pie without the work of a pie. I've got three more squash to use, and I may even branch out and add cloves and nutmeg next time! 

16 comments:

  1. Oh nice! I've been eating acorn squash this way since I was a little kid. I love it. Our volunteer squash/gourd vines are dying. We have some decorative gourds and a bunch of pattypan squash - I'm going to have Fletch try grilling them.

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  2. Acorn squash are my very favorites! And especially roasted with a little butter -- and sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar. And now I want some. . .

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  3. This takes me back to my childhood -- my mother used to roast acorn squash when I was growing up, but I think she used maple syrup instead of brown sugar. I haven't had one in years. Clearly I need to try it again this fall!

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  4. I love squash with a bit of butter and brown sugar on it! Simple and so good. (but this recipe is also darned good! https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-stuffed-roasted-squash-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-101662)

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  5. I love squash but rarely eat it because he does not like squash! My dad used to grow it and we would eat it with butter and brown sugar.

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  6. Oh yes. That's how my mom always made it!! So yum...

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  7. I'm glad you have discovered a new healthy food. All winter squashes are favorites of mine. I love butternut squash as much as I love acorn squash. I like to cube it, saute it in butter until it softens, then turn up the heat until the liquid from cooking the squash disappears so that it becomes candied. I think winter squash takes a back seat to sweet potatoes because they present preparation challenges that sweet potatoes do not. Have a great weekend, and I hope a lot of light comes your way.

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  8. We buy them all the time and add butter and agave instead of brown sugar, they are delicious. Glad you enjoyed yours.

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    1. My mother only ever made frozen peas, mixed vegetables, and broccoli with Cheez Whiz on top, so my childhood vegetable palette was very limited. I wish I had known about acorn squash a long time ago (but better late than never)!

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  9. We have acorn squash with stuffing every Thanksgiving. It's soooo good!

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  10. I love acorn or butternut or any winter squash. My favorite way to roast them is with butter and maple syrup.

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    1. Several people have recommended using maple syrup, so I'll definitely try that this week. Thanks, Debbie!

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  11. My family just cuts them in half, cleans them, salt and pepper and cut side down in a roasting pan with about an inch of water for 45-60 minutes. Of course lots of butter. Standard of our family winter get togethers (Thanksgiving and Christmas). I love them any time I can get good ones (early summer is probably not a good time to buy them). Look for very dark green and any yellow patches should be a very deep yellow. :)

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    1. Thanks for the tips on what to look for in a good acorn squash, Helen! I've got a couple left from our garden, but I think I'll be buying some for Thanksgiving this year.

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    2. :) I never get enough of them, lol.

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  12. I do love acorn squash. Those that are home grown would be even better. Go wild with the cloves and nutmeg but honestly butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon is a hard act to follow.

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