Butternut Squash With Wilted Spinach And Blue Cheese Food

BUTTERNUT SQUASH W/ WILTED SPINACH AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F Halve the squash lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out and discard seeds.
• If desired, peel with a vegetable peeler or cut into big chunks and keep steady on the cutting board while cutting off the peel with a knife.
• Cut into 1-inch cubes. Transfer to a large, rimmed baking sheet. Toss with oil, salt and pepper and spread out in a single layer.
• Roast, tossing occasionally, until just tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Stop cooking squash but keep it warm.
• Use a fork to mash together blue cheese and lemon juice in a large bowl to make a thick smooth dressing. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add onions, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add spinach and cook, tossing often, until slightly wilted and warm, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Transfer contents of skillet to bowl with dressing, add squash, salt and pepper and toss to combine.

WILTED SPINACH SALAD WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute the squash, chili powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt in 2 teaspoons oil until tender, 11-13 minutes. Set aside; keep warm., In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 4-6 minutes or until reduced to 1/4 cup. Stir in the wine, cranberry sauce, remaining oil and remaining salt. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute longer. , Place spinach on a serving platter; top with onion, cranberries and squash mixture. Drizzle with warm dressing. Sprinkle with almonds, goat cheese and, if desired, pepper. Serve immediately.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH PECANS AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Halve the squash, leaving the skin on, and scoop out the seeds, then cut into 1-inch cubes; you don't need to be precise just keep the pieces uniformly small.
• Put into a roasting tin with the oil and strip about 4 stalks thyme of their leaves, sprinkling over the butternut squash. If you can't get any fresh thyme, sprinkle over dried.
• Roast in the oven for about 30 to 45 minutes or until tender.
• Once out of the oven, remove the squash to a bowl and scatter over the pecans and crumble over the cheese tossing everything together gently. Check the seasoning and add the last couple of stalks of thyme torn into small sprigs to decorate.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH GNOCCHI WITH GARLIC-SAGE BUTTER OVER WILTED SPINACH

Steps:

• Pour water into the pot of a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and place a steamer basket inside. Place butternut squash and potatoes in the steamer basket. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 5 minutes. Allow 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Use a pot holder to remove the steamer basket and set aside to allow the squash and potatoes to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Press the squash and potatoes through a ricer into a large bowl. Add egg and salt, and mix thoroughly. Sift about 1 1/2 cups of flour over the mixture and mix to combine. If the mixture is still sticky, add a bit more flour until it comes together. Turn out mixture onto a well-floured surface and knead slightly, adding more flour until the dough is no longer sticking to your hands or to the surface.
• Divide dough into 4 parts. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and dust with flour.
• Take 1 piece of dough and roll it into a 1/2-inch thick rope on the floured surface. Cut the rope lengthwise into 1/2-inch pieces. Working with 1 piece at a time, roll each piece down a floured gnocchi board to make ridges. Transfer gnocchi onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Place baking sheets in the freezer while you prepare the sauce and spinach.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, place wet spinach in a large skillet over medium heat. Cover and allow condensation to build until the spinach starts to wilt, about 3 minutes. Remove lid and stir the spinach until wilted and the pan begins to dry. Divide spinach among 4 serving plates.
• Combine butter and olive oil in the same skillet that you cooked the spinach. Heat over medium-high heat until mixture begins to foam. Add sage, garlic, and red pepper and swirl the pan to combine. Remove from heat.
• Cook gnocchi in boiling water until they float, 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the skillet with the garlic-sage butter. Toss lightly to coat. Place gnocchi on top of spinach on the serving plates and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Serve immediately.

SQUASH & BLUE CHEESE WELLINGTON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the squash lengthways into eight long chunky pieces and put in a large roasting tin with the shallots. Toss in a little oil, season and roast for 20 mins. Add the pecans and roast for 10 mins more, or until the squash is cooked but still firm.
• Leave the squash to cool completely, but tip the nuts and shallots into a non-stick pan. Add the maple syrup, balsamic vinegar and plenty of seasoning, and stir over the heat until the shallots start to caramelise. Leave to cool.
• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a rectangle about 32 x 38cm. Trim 2cm from one of the long edges and set aside. Transfer the pastry to a baking tray. Place 4 of the pieces of squash down the longest length in the middle to make a rectangular block, keeping a generous border of pastry all the way round. Place another 2 pieces of squash on top. Trim the remaining 2 pieces and put crossways at the end. Scatter over the sage and blue cheese, then top with the shallots and pecans. Lightly press to compact everything together.
• Brush round the pastry edges with the egg, then draw the two long edges up to meet and pinch together to seal - as you would a Cornish pasty. Tuck under the pastry at both ends, then brush all over with egg. Cut leaf shapes from the pastry trimmings and use to decorate the top of the Wellington. Glaze again and make a couple of small air holes with the point of a knife.
• To freeze: Open-freeze on a baking tray until solid, then wrap in cling film then foil. It will keep for 2 months. To serve, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put a baking tray in to heat up. Unwrap the Wellington and place on the hot tray. Bake for 30 mins. Cover lightly with foil and bake for 35-40 mins more, taking off the foil for the final 10 mins. Leave to settle for 10 mins before thickly slicing, or the cheese will be too melty and run out. (If cooking from fresh, chill the Wellington for at least 30 mins before cooking - it then needs only 30-40 mins in the oven.)
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the squash lengthways into eight long chunky pieces and put in a large roasting tin with the shallots. Toss in a little oil, season and roast for 20 mins. Add the pecans and roast for 10 mins more, or until the squash is cooked but still firm.
• Leave the squash to cool completely, but tip the nuts and shallots into a non-stick pan. Add the maple syrup, balsamic vinegar and plenty of seasoning, and stir over the heat until the shallots start to caramelise. Leave to cool.
• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a rectangle about 32 x 38cm. Trim 2cm from one of the long edges and set aside. Transfer the pastry to a baking tray. Place 4 of the pieces of squash down the longest length in the middle to make a rectangular block, keeping a generous border of pastry all the way round. Place another 2 pieces of squash on top. Trim the remaining 2 pieces and put crossways at the end. Scatter over the sage and blue cheese, then top with the shallots and pecans. Lightly press to compact everything together.
• Brush round the pastry edges with the egg, then draw the two long edges up to meet and pinch together to seal - as you would a Cornish pasty. Tuck under the pastry at both ends, then brush all over with egg. Cut leaf shapes from the pastry trimmings and use to decorate the top of the Wellington. Glaze again and make a couple of small air holes with the point of a knife.
• To freeze: Open-freeze on a baking tray until solid, then wrap in cling film then foil. It will keep for 2 months. To serve, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put a baking tray in to heat up. Unwrap the Wellington and place on the hot tray. Bake for 30 mins. Cover lightly with foil and bake for 35-40 mins more, taking off the foil for the final 10 mins. Leave to settle for 10 mins before thickly slicing, or the cheese will be too melty and run out. (If cooking from fresh, chill the Wellington for at least 30 mins before cooking - it then needs only 30-40 mins in the oven.)