Acorn Squash Polenta Food

SLOW-COOKER ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut each acorn squash into 6 slices and remove seeds.
• Pour the stock and cider vinegar into a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the squash slices, drizzle with the olive oil, and sprinkle with the thyme leaves and some salt and pepper.
• Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.
• When the squash is fork-tender, heat a small saute pan over medium-high heat and add the butter. When hot but not smoking, add the thyme sprigs--they should sizzle--and fry for about 30 seconds, until darkened but not browned. Remove the sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool slightly before shaving off the leaves. Let the brown butter in the pan cool slightly, then drizzle it over the squash. Garnish with the fried thyme leaves.

ACORN SQUASH POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place squash on large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt; toss to coat. Arrange squash in single layer. Bake squash until brown and tender when pierced with fork, about 25 minutes. While squash is roasting, cook onion in 3 tablespoons butter in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring, until very soft, about 8 minutes. Add water, milk, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Add polenta in a thin stream, whisking. Cook polenta at a bare simmer, stirring with a long-handled whisk and turning down heat as needed to prevent spattering, 5 minutes. Stir in squash and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Serve immediately.

ACORN SQUASH WITH POLENTA SOUFFLé AND PULLED PORK

Steps:

• To make the pulled pork, combine the spices and sugar, rub them all over the pork roast and refrigerate overnight.
• Soak the wood chips in water 20 minutes before cooking. When ready to cook, partly fill a metal bowl with water. In the bottom of a charcoal grill, surround the bowl with charcoals. Ignite the coals, and when they are white, place the roast, fat side up, over the bowl and add some wood chips to the fire. Cook, covered, 4 to 6 hours, adding wood chips and charcoal every hour as needed, until the roast has reached an internal temperature of 185 degrees. Allow it to cool for an hour before removing the fat and pulling the pork into pieces.
• Meanwhile, make the acorn squash. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice off the tops of the squash and enough off the bottoms to make them sit flat. Scoop out the seeds and rub about 2 teaspoons of butter inside each. Roast for 40 minutes and keep warm.
• To make the polenta souffle, melt the butter in a medium pan. Stir in the corn flour and cornmeal and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Mix in the milk and 1 cup water and cook, stirring, 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Beat 2 tablespoons water into egg yolks, then stir thoroughly into the flour mixture. Add the salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, whisk the egg whites until they form stiff but not dry peaks; gently mix them into the polenta, using a wooden spoon.
• Place about cup of the pulled pork in each squash, and over that, spoon in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the souffle mixture. Bake until the souffle has become puffy and brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve immediately alongside additional pulled pork.