Twice Baked Acorn Squash With Bacon Food

ACORN SQUASH WITH BACON

Steps:

• I like to buy the squash a month or two ahead of time to let it ripen, so that the squash turns yellow all the way around, not just on the bottom. That is when they are ripe. But if you didn't, don't let it stop you from making this recipe !
• Cut squash in 1/2 with the grooves.
• Remove the pulp with the seeds, and cut thin slice off back half, so the half lays steady-flat with out tipping, but try do not cut through the center.
• Place squash in greased oven proof pan.
• Place butter around edges of squash, and some in center, of each half.
• You will use 1 tablespoon for each half, more or less. This depends on how buttery you want it.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste, and then place bacon around edges of squash.
• Cover entire dish with foil, bake at 350 degrees, 45 minutes, or until done.
• To test for doneness, be careful when removing foil,steam will come out, fork test squash for tenderness, when done it will be soft all the way through, to skin.

ACORN SQUASH WITH BACON, APPLE AND SWISS

Steps:

• Halve squash.
• Remove seeds and pulp.
• Place squash, cut side down, in a shallow baking dish.
• Add water.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• In a medium saute or sauce pan over medium heat, cook bacon until some fat is rendered (3 min).
• Add onion and saute/sweat for 3 minutes-ish.
• Add sage, rosemary,thyme, and pepper (or anything else you'd like).
• Add apple and saute/sweat for 2 minutes-ish.
• Add garlic and saute/sweat for 2 minutes-ish.
• Drain if needed.
• Stir in stuffing mix and water.
• Once stuffing mix is moist, stir in cheese.
• Spoon stuffing into prepared squash.
• Cover with loosely with foil.
• Bake about 20 minutes more.
• I removed foil; topped with optional topping (below) and baked for last five minutes.
• Optional topping:.
• Mix bread crumbs and olive oil.
• Mix in parsley and green onions.

TWICE BAKED SQUASH

Steps:

• Halve squash. Remove seeds. Place the halved squash, cut side down, in a 9x13 dish. Cover and bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes, until tender.
• Remove pulp from squash, leaving a 1/4" shell in each half.
• In bowl, combine pulp, spinach, 1/2 of the Parmesan, the eggs, margarine,bacon, onion, salt and pepper.
• Fill shells with this mixture. Mix remaining cheese with breadcrumbs, sprinkle on top of squash.
• Bake at 350, 25-30 minutes.