Acorn Squash With Bacon Food

STUFFED ACORN SQUASH WITH MUSHROOM AND TURKEY BACON STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Place 1 acorn squash half onto the prepared baking sheet; drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon oil and season with salt. Wrap and refrigerate other squash half for another use.
• Bake squash in the preheated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, about 40 minutes.
• Spray a frying pan lightly with cooking spray. Place bacon into the pan and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. When cool enough to handle, cut into small pieces and set aside.
• Heat remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil in the same pan over medium heat. Cook mushrooms, onion, and garlic in the hot oil until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add bread cubes, water, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook until desired consistency is achieved, 5 to 7 minutes more. Add bacon, mix, and set aside.
• Remove squash from the oven and carefully scoop contents out and mix with stuffing in a bowl. Stuff acorn squash with stuffing mixture and serve immediately.

TWICE-BAKED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place squash upside down on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. , Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until tender. Scoop out squash, leaving a 1/4-in. shell., In a large bowl, combine the squash pulp, spinach, bacon, 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, green onion, butter, salt and cayenne. , Spoon into shells. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through and top is golden brown.

ACORN SQUASH WITH BACON

Steps:

• I like to buy the squash a month or two ahead of time to let it ripen, so that the squash turns yellow all the way around, not just on the bottom. That is when they are ripe. But if you didn't, don't let it stop you from making this recipe !
• Cut squash in 1/2 with the grooves.
• Remove the pulp with the seeds, and cut thin slice off back half, so the half lays steady-flat with out tipping, but try do not cut through the center.
• Place squash in greased oven proof pan.
• Place butter around edges of squash, and some in center, of each half.
• You will use 1 tablespoon for each half, more or less. This depends on how buttery you want it.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste, and then place bacon around edges of squash.
• Cover entire dish with foil, bake at 350 degrees, 45 minutes, or until done.
• To test for doneness, be careful when removing foil,steam will come out, fork test squash for tenderness, when done it will be soft all the way through, to skin.

TWICE-BAKED ACORN SQUASH WITH BACON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place squash, cut sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish. Bake 50 to 55 min. or until tender.
• Scoop out pulp, leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells. Place shells, cut sides up, in same baking dish. Combine pulp with spinach, shredded cheese, bacon bits, butter, green onions and pepper. Spoon into squash shells. Mix bread crumbs and Parmesan; sprinkle over filling.
• Bake 25 to 30 min. or until heated through.

ACORN SQUASH WITH LEFTOVER STUFFING

Steps:

• Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place cut side down in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan; add 1/2 in. hot water. Bake, uncovered, at 400° until tender, about 30 minutes. , When squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out flesh, leaving a 1/4-in. shell (flesh will measure about 3 cups). Drain water from pan; place squash shells cut side up in pan and set aside. , In a large bowl, combine the flesh, egg, salt and pepper. Dissolve bouillon in boiling water; add to squash mixture. Add stuffing; spoon into squash shells. If desired, top with cheese. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 400° until heated through, 20-25 minutes. If desired, top with chopped parsley.

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH AGRODOLCE

Steps:

• For the fried sage leaves: Heat a small saucepan with 1 inch oil over medium-high heat. Test the oil by touching the tip of a sage leaf in the oil; if it bubbles, the oil is ready for frying. Fry the leaves, 3 to 4 at a time, until the bubbles subside and the leaves become crisp. Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt.
• For the squash: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Using a chef's knife, cut off a small amount off the top and bottom of each squash. Set the squash, cut-side down, and cut in half. Using a large spoon, scoop out and discard the seeds. Cut each half into 5 wedges and place them in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, cayenne, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon salt. Toss with your hands to coat well, then transfer the squash to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and fork tender, 35 minutes.
• Place the butter in a small skillet and melt over medium heat until the foam subsides and the solids begin to smell nutty and turn brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Allow the butter to cool for 2 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar and sugar until the sugar is dissolved, then whisk in the brown butter, using a rubber spatula to get all the brown bits out of the pan. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Lay the squash on a serving platter and spoon the vinaigrette over. Dollop with the mascarpone and sprinkle with the almonds and fried sage.

ACORN SQUASH WITH BACON, APPLE AND SWISS

Steps:

• Halve squash.
• Remove seeds and pulp.
• Place squash, cut side down, in a shallow baking dish.
• Add water.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• In a medium saute or sauce pan over medium heat, cook bacon until some fat is rendered (3 min).
• Add onion and saute/sweat for 3 minutes-ish.
• Add sage, rosemary,thyme, and pepper (or anything else you'd like).
• Add apple and saute/sweat for 2 minutes-ish.
• Add garlic and saute/sweat for 2 minutes-ish.
• Drain if needed.
• Stir in stuffing mix and water.
• Once stuffing mix is moist, stir in cheese.
• Spoon stuffing into prepared squash.
• Cover with loosely with foil.
• Bake about 20 minutes more.
• I removed foil; topped with optional topping (below) and baked for last five minutes.
• Optional topping:.
• Mix bread crumbs and olive oil.
• Mix in parsley and green onions.