Maple Squash Food

BAKED SQUASH AND MAPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place squash halves, cut side up, on large baking sheet. bake until very tender, about 50 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Using large spoon, scoop out squash flesh and transfer to large bowl.
• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add chopped onion and ground nutmeg and saute until onion is tender and light brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with squash. Add chicken broth and maple syrup.
• Puree mixture in batches in processor until smooth. Season squash puree with salt and pepper. Return puree to same saucepan. Stir puree over medium heat until heated through. Transfer to bowl and serve.

MAPLE GLAZED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Combine butternut squash, water, maple syrup, rum, and nutmeg in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until squash is tender, about 15 minutes.
• Remove butternut squash from saucepan using a slotted spoon and transfer to a serving dish, reserving liquid in the saucepan. Continue simmering liquid until reduced and thickened, 5 to 10 minutes; pour over butternut squash.

MAPLE-ROASTED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the squash, cut sides up, on a sheet pan. Place 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup in the cavity of each squash. Brush the cut sides with olive oil and sprinkle the squash with 3 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the squash, until tender when pierced with a small knife.
• Place the squash on a serving platter. If the halves are too large for one serving, cut each piece in half through the stem. Drizzle lightly with extra maple syrup, sprinkle with sea salt, and serve hot.

MAPLE BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut squash in half lengthwise; discard seeds. Place cut side down in a microwave-safe dish; add 1/2 in. of hot water. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 12-14 minutes or until crisp-tender. , Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the syrup, raisins, butter, cardamom and allspice; set aside. When squash is cool enough to handle, remove rind and cut into 1-in. pieces. Place in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Drizzle with syrup mixture. , Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until squash is tender. Serve with a slotted spoon.

LEMON-MAPLE SQUASH

Steps:

• Slice 4 pounds butternut or calabaza squash into thick wedges and remove the seeds. Place cut-side up in a baking dish. Combine 1/3 cup maple syrup, 1/3 cup water, the zest and juice of 1 lemon, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and a pinch each of salt and pepper; pour over the squash and dot with 4 tablespoons butter. Bake 20 minutes at 350, then flip the squash and bake until caramelized and tender, 25 more minutes, basting halfway through.
• Calories: 161; Total Fat: 6 grams; Saturated Fat: 4 grams; Protein: 2 grams; Total carbohydrates: 29 grams; Sugar: 11 grams; Fiber: 3.5 grams; Cholesterol: 15 milligrams; Sodium: 46 milligrams

MAPLE SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F (200C).
• Line a baking sheet with foil, then lightly brush or spray with oil.
• You may have to cut the pieces into chunks no bigger than 1 inch (2. 5cm) wide.
• In a medium-size bowl, stir oil with maple syrup, thyme and salt.
• Add squash and toss until evenly coated.
• Spread out on baking sheet.
• Scrape maple mixture from bottom of bowl evenly over squash.
• Roast squash, 25 to 30 minutes, uncovered, in centre of preheated oven, until tender and bottom edges are golden.
• To ensure a rich, dark-golden glaze on top of squash, do not turn squash pieces over or stir during roasting.
• Remove from oven and serve immediately.

MAPLE ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash with oil, maple, salt and fresh ground pepper. Place in a baking dish, cover with foil and roast in the center of the oven for 25 minutes.
• Remove foil, turn the squash and bake an addition 15 minutes, or until fork tender (time will vary depending on the size you cut the squash).
• Makes 3 cups.

MAPLE SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Pierce neck end of squash in several places with a sharp knife. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 4-5 minutes. Cut squash between neck and bulb. Peel neck and cut into cubes; set aside. , Remove and discard seeds and membrane from bulb, leaving about a 1/2-in. shell; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in a foil-lined 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan; top with 4 teaspoons butter. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until butter is melted and squash is heated through. , In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, saute the onions, leek and celery in remaining butter until tender. Add squash cubes, broth and syrup; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until squash is tender. , In a blender, puree soup in small batches until smooth. Return to the pan. Drizzle additional syrup into squash bowls. Fill with soup; drizzle with additional syrup if desired. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Freeze remaining soup.

MAPLE SWEET DUMPLING SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut the squash in half and remove seeds with a spoon.
• Use a fork to poke several holes in the outside skin of each half of the squash. Place squash in baking pan with hollow side up. Add 1" of water to bottom of pan.
• Place 1 tablespoon of butter, 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in the hollow of each squash half. Pour 1/4 cup of maple syrup on each.
• Bake uncovered on middle rack for 30-45 minutes or until the flesh is soft.
• Serve hot. If using sweet dumpling squash, each half will serve one person and can be served with dinner "as is." Alternately, you may allow the squash halves to cool partially, remove the skins, and mash or puree the squash.

MAPLE-ROASTED SQUASH WITH PECANS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Finely chop the leaves from 2 rosemary sprigs and mix with the oil, maple syrup and plenty of seasoning. Toss with the butternut squash on a large baking tray and roast for 20 mins.
• Roughly chop the pecans so they stay pretty chunky. Break the remaining rosemary sprig into shorter sprigs, then scatter with the pecans over the squash, and toss together, turning over the squash wedges. Return to the oven for another 20 mins until the squash is tender and caramelising at the edges. Serve straight away, or at room temperature.

MAPLE ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°. Cut acorn squash in half from pole to pole; remove seeds and fibrous pulp. Pierce the inside of the squash with a fork several times.
• Place squash cut side up on a rimmed plate or baking dish. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of water in the bottom of the dish, which will create steam when cooking. Microwave for 6-7 minutes on high, or until the squash is easily pierced with a fork.
• Remove from the microwave and place 2 teaspoons of butter in the cavity of each squash and drizzle 1 tablespoon of maple syrup into the cavity and on the edges of the squash.
• Add a couple drops of vanilla, sprinkle with cinnamon as desired, and add a dash of nutmeg to each squash.
• Place in the oven for 5-10 minutes to melt butter and meld flavors. Serve immediately.

MAPLE SQUASH PURéE

Steps:

• Simmer squash in water with 1 teaspoon salt in a 5-quart pot (water will not cover squash), covered, until squash is very tender, about 15 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid, then drain squash in a colander.
• Purée squash, syrup, and butter in batches in a food processor until smooth, adding reserved cooking liquid if purée is too thick. Transfer to a serving bowl and stir in pepper and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt.
• Variations:
• • Add crumbled bacon: Cook 6 bacon slices in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, then crumble and sprinkle over purée.
• • Add 1 teaspoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger to purée along with pepper and salt.

MAPLE-ROASTED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Place the squash, cut sides up, on a sheet pan. Place ½ tablespoon butter and ½ tablespoon maple syrup in the cavity of each squash. Brush the cut sides with olive oil and sprinkle the squash with 3 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the squash, until tender when pierced with a small knife.
• Place the squash on a serving platter. If the halves are too large for one serving, cut each piece in half through the stem. Drizzle lightly with extra maple syrup, sprinkle with sea salt, and serve hot.
• Cooks' Note
• Acorn squash is hard to cut. To halve a whole squash, plunge the blade of a large chef's knife into the side of the squash as far as it will go. Holding the handle of the knife, bang the squash (with the knife in it) on the board until the blade cuts all the way through.