Candied Butternut Squash Food

CARAMELIZED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut off and discard the ends of each butternut squash. Peel the squash, cut them in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch cubes and place them on a baking sheet. Add the melted butter, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. With clean hands, toss all the ingredients together and spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, until the squash is tender and the glaze begins to caramelize. While roasting, turn the squash a few times with a spatula, to be sure it browns evenly. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

CARAMELIZED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• In a large, heavy pot, stir the water, brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks together until the sugar dissolves. Add the butternut squash and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until the liquid is reduced and syrupy, and the squash is very tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Place the reserved seeds in a colander and rinse to remove any pulp. Dry thoroughly on paper towels. Heat an 8-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the squash seeds and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly toasted. Set aside to cool completely before using.
• Remove the cinnamon sticks from the squash and discard. Let the squash cool slightly and serve warm or at room temperature with the toasted seeds.

CARAMELIZED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Cut off the ends of each butternut squash and discard.
• Peel the squash and cut in half lengthwise.
• Using a spoon, remove the seeds.
• Cut the squash into 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" cubes (large and uniform is best), and place them on a baking sheet.
• Add the melted butter, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
• With clean hands, toss all of the ingredients together and spread out in a single layer on the baking sheet.
• Roast for 45 minutes to 55 minutes, until the squash is tender and the glaze begins to caramelize.
• Turn the squash while roasting a few times with a spatula to be sure it browns evenly.
• Adjust seasonings if needed.
• Serve hot.
• Enjoy!

CANDIED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Put marmalade, sugar, ginger, vanilla bean, cloves, and lemon juice in a large, wide pot. Stir in 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve marmalade and sugar.
• Add squash, and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, and partially cover pot. Gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until squash is tender when pierced with a fork, about 35 minutes. Uncover, and cook until liquid is syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove vanilla bean, and discard. Serve warm. Squash and syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week. Before serving, reheat over medium-low heat. If the syrup seems too thick, add 1 to 2 tablespoons water.

CANDIED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Place squash in 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Drizzle with butter; toss to coat. Blend sugar, cinnamon, salt, pepper and cloves in small bowl; mix into squash. Bake until squash is tender and syrup bubbles thickly in dish, stirring gently every 15 minutes, about 50 minutes total.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH BROWN SUGAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Combine squash, olive oil, brown sugar, sea salt, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl; toss until squash is evenly coated. Spread squash in an even layer onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven, turning midway through, until edges are lightly browned and centers are tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with nuts.

TWICE-BAKED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH PARMESAN CREAM AND CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut both squash in half lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Transfer cut side down to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Poke outside of skin all over with a fork, then roast until flesh is very soft, about 1 1/2 hours for large squash and about 1 hour for medium squash.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 cup cream in a medium pot over medium until just beginning to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and whisk in 1/4 cup cheese and cook, whisking, until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer to a medium bowl and chill until very cold, about 45 minutes (do not freeze).
• Cook bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels, reserving bacon fat in skillet. Let cool, then finely chop.
• Spread 3 Tbsp. sugar in a thin layer in the center of a medium dry skillet. Cook over medium heat, mostly undisturbed (it's ok to swirl pan gently to get sugar to melt evenly), until sugar melts and starts to turn light brown, about 6 minutes. Quickly stir in bacon and hazelnuts and cook, stirring, until coated and melted sugar is chestnut brown, about 1 minute more. Scrape onto a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and spread out to cool, then finely chop.
• Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Using a spoon, scoop flesh out of large squash into a large bowl, leaving a 1/2" border around squash shell to help maintain its shape. Transfer large shells to a rimmed baking sheet; arrange a few pieces of crumpled foil around shells to keep them upright. Scoop flesh out of medium shells into same bowl (you should have 6 cups squash); discard medium shells. Using a potato masher or spatula, mix in salt, pepper, nutmeg, 1 Tbsp. reserved bacon fat, and remaining 1 cup cream, 3/4 cup cheese, and 1 Tbsp. sugar until smooth. Fold in 2 Tbsp. chives. Divide filling between large squash shells, then create attractive swoops with a spoon. Bake squash until warmed through, 20-30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed or a whisk, whip chilled cream to medium peaks. Chill until ready to use.
• Dollop squash with whipped cream, then top with candied bacon bits and remaining 1 Tbsp. chives. Serve extra candied hazelnut-bacon bits on the side.
• Do Ahead
• Squash shells can be filled (not baked) 2 days ahead; cover and chill.