Comprehensively Stuffed Squash A Moosewood Food

MOOSEWOOD'S BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Brush the bottom of a baking pan with olive oil and set aside. Cut the squash through the stem ends into halves, prick the skin in several places with a knife, and scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
• Brush the cut surfaces with about a tablespoon of the olive oil.
• Put the garlic inside the squash cavities and place halves in the pan cut side down.
• Add the onions to the pan and brush with remaining olive oil. Pour the water into the bottom of the pan, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 50 minutes.
• Uncover and bake for 5-10 minutes more or until the squash is tender and the onions are soft.
• When the squash is cooled enough to handle, scoop out the flesh.
• Squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins and discard the skins.
• In batches in a blender, combine the baked vegetables, apple juice or stock, thyme, nutmeg, salt and pepper and puree until it is smooth. (If you are making this ahead - chill here - and when ready go to the next direction).
• Pour the soup into a pot and heat gently.
• In a small skillet, melt the butter and saute the sage leaves until dark and curled.
• Garnish each bowl of soup with the sage leaves.

VEGETARIAN STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut squash in half, remove seeds, and bake, cut side down, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, saute onions, celery, and carrot in butter or oil until soft and translucent. Add garlic and mushrooms, and continue cooking until they are soft and have released their juices. Add sherry to "deglaze" the pan, and allow to simmer briefly.
• Add bread cubes, raisins, sunflower seeds, sun-dried tomatoes, and walnuts, stir to combine. Add sage and salt/pepper to taste, then enough broth to soften; remove from heat.
• Once cooled slightly, stir in shredded cheese.
• Add stuffing to interior of squash, mounding as needed, and bake covered another 20-30 minutes. For a crunchier top, remove cover for the last 10 minutes.

COMPREHENSIVELY STUFFED SQUASH -- A MOOSEWOOD RECIPE

Steps:

• For four servings of stuffed squash, split 2 decent sized acorn or butternut squash lengthwise down the middle. Remove the seeds and bake, face down, on an oiled tray for 30 minutes at 350, or until tender enough to eat.
• Saute onion, garlic, celery, nuts and seeds, lightly salted, in butter. Cook over low heat until onions are clear, nuts are browned, celery is tender (in other words, cook until everything is perfect.).
• Add remaining ingredients (except cheese and egg). Cook, stirring over low heat, 5-8 minutes - until everything is aquainted. Remove from heat and mix in egg and cheese. Pack stuffing into squash cavities.
• Bake, covered, 25 minutes.