Roasted Winter Squash With Gorgonzola Cheese Food

WINTER SQUASH WEDGES WITH GORGONZOLA BUTTER AND HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Make the Gorgonzola butter:
• In a medium-sized bowl, pound the garlic and a hefty pinch of salt with the back of a spoon until a paste forms. Add the butter and cheese and mix until well incorporated. Set aside.
• Make the squash:
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and brush the squash wedges with a little melted butter. Add the squash to the skillet and cook, undisturbed, for a few minutes. Once the squash begins to brown up a bit, turn the wedges and continue to cook, turning them every few minutes, until they are tender, about 25 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt.
• Spoon a thin layer of the Gorgonzola butter onto a platter and top it with the squash. Sprinkle with the minced parsley, hazelnuts, and freshly ground black pepper.

ROASTED SQUASH AND GORGONZOLA PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add the squash, shallots, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and red pepper flakes, if using, to a rimmed baking sheet. Toss well to combine and coat in the oil. Roast until the squash is beginning to brown and is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and turn the oven up to 550 degrees F. Position one rack in the top third of the oven and place the second rack in the middle of the oven so it is out of the way.
• Dust a separate rimmed baking sheet lightly with semolina flour. Place the pizza dough on the flour and gently stretch and form the dough into a 12-inch round using your fingertips. Brush or drizzle the dough with the remaining tablespoon oil and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Tear the mozzarella over the bottom of the crust. Sprinkle the squash mixture over the cheese. Crumble or tear the gorgonzola over the pizza and sprinkle with the walnuts. Place the baking sheet on the very bottom of the oven for 5 minutes. Rotate the pizza to the top rack and bake 10 more minutes. Remove to a cutting board and drizzle with the honey, if using. Slice into wedges and serve warm.

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH AND GORGONZOLA PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Slice the squash in half from top to bottom. Scoop out the seeds. Slice the squash into 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide half moons and place in a medium bowl. Toss the squash with the syrup, olive oil, red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place the squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the squash until tender and golden, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Keep the temperature on the oven at 375 degrees F. Roll out the pizza dough on a flour dusted piece of parchment paper to a 13-inch diameter. Place the pizza and the parchment paper on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and the Gorgonzola on the pizza dough. Bake in the oven until golden and cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Peel the skins off the squash. Top the cooked pizza with the cooked squash. Top with arugula and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Slice and serve.

ROASTED WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel the squash with a vegetable peeler. Halve lengthwise, discard the seeds, then cut into 1-inch dice. Place in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter ceases to foam and has turned a light brown, pull the pan off the heat and immediately add the sage, sugar, vinegar (stand back so as not to get splattered), molasses and Toasted Spice Rub. Mix well and let simmer over medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the squash and toss well, then transfer to a heavy rimmed baking sheet or baking dish large enough to hold the squash in a single layer. Place in the oven and roast, tossing at least once, until very tender and caramelized, about 1 hour. Set aside until cool enough to handle but still warm, so the liquids are runny.
• Increase the oven temperature to broil.
• Working in batches, if necessary, transfer the warm squash and all the cooking liquids to a food processor and process until smooth. Transfer to a buttered 1 1/2 pint gratin dish, or 6 to 7 (1/2 cup) ramekins, top with the crumbled biscotti and put under the broiler for 5 to 8 minutes or until biscotti is slightly toasted. You can also refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Variation for Smoky Butternut Squash: Cook the prepared squash on a baking sheet in a covered grill with soaked chips to give a slightly smoky taste. Substitute in any of the recipes that call for roasted squash.
• If cooking kabocha, acorn, or other difficult-to-peel squash, cut in half, scoop out the seeds, and rub the insides and cut edges with the vinegar/molasses mixture. Place on a baking sheet, cut sides up, and roast at 400 degrees F until tender. Scoop out and puree.
• Serve the puree on its own as a side dish for roast chicken, turkey, or pork; stir into polenta just before the end of cooking; use as a stuffing for ravioli; make into a soup; or use to flavor pastina. Or omit the sage, season with ground cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Cut the squash into small equal-sized pieces (about 1/2-inch/2 cm). Toss the squash and onion with half the butter, the honey, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper until well combined. Spread in a single layer on parchment-lined baking sheets. Roast, turning occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes or until very tender (rotate the baking sheets halfway through cooking). Cool slightly; combine with the cottage cheese, milk, broth and Gorgonzola.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease a 9 x 13-inch (3 L) casserole dish. Spread one quarter of the cottage cheese mixture evenly into the dish. Cover with an even layer of noodles, trimming to fit. Repeat layers of cheese and noodles twice. Spread the remaining cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.
• Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, toss breadcrumbs with walnuts, parsley and remaining butter; sprinkle the lasagna evenly with breadcrumb mixture. Broil for 3 minutes or until golden brown. Rest for 20 minutes before slicing.