Twice Baked Squash Food

TWICE-BAKED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the squash and potatoes on a baking sheet. Brush the squash with half of the oil and toss the sweet potatoes with the other half, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Turn the squash and sweet potatoes flesh-side down on the baking sheet and poke the skin of the squash all over with a fork. Roast until the squash flesh is very soft and golden brown and the potatoes are cooked through when poked with a knife, 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Turn the oven to broil. Scoop out the flesh of the sweet potatoes and put it in a bowl (discard the skins). Scoop the flesh out of the squash, leaving a 1/2-inch border of flesh around the edges, and add it to the bowl along with the heavy cream, butter, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Mash with a potato masher until it is smooth, creamy and resembles mashed potatoes. Put the squash skins back on the baking sheet and divide the filling evenly between the cavities. Top with the goat cheese, then broil until the cheese is bubbly and just beginning to turn brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle the scallions and pepitas over tops before serving.

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.

CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI TWICE-BAKED SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• With a sharp knife, carefully cut about four 1/2-inch slits in the squash to allow steam to escape while it cooks. Put the squash on a baking sheet and roast for about 1 1/2 hours. Let the squash cool for about 20 minutes on the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a bowl and prepare an ice water bath. Blanch the broccoli briefly in the boiling water, then transfer to the ice bath to cool. Drain and set aside.
• Cut the squash in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. With a large fork, pull the squash fibers away from the outer peel (use a towel to hold the squash in place if necessary). Reserve the squash and the outer peel.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Put the milk and garlic in a saucepan over medium-high heat and heat until it just begins to simmer, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add the Neufchatel cheese, Parmesan and 1 cup of the mozzarella and stir until melted. Turn off the heat, stir in the yogurt and season with salt and pepper. Remove the garlic. Add the squash, chicken and broccoli and toss to coat. Divide the mixture between the reserved squash peels. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
• Place the stuffed squash onto a baking sheet and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, a few minutes.

TWICE-BAKED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place squash upside down on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. , Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until tender. Scoop out squash, leaving a 1/4-in. shell., In a large bowl, combine the squash pulp, spinach, bacon, 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, green onion, butter, salt and cayenne. , Spoon into shells. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through and top is golden brown.

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.

TWICE BAKED BUTTERCUP SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F.
• Cut squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds and fibers and discard.
• Place squash in an ungreased 13x9-inch baking dish.
• Cover tightly with foil.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until squash is tender.
• Cool for 10-15 minutes.
• Reduce oven temp to 375°F.
• Scoop out flesh of squash, leaving about 1/4 inch thick shell and set shells aside for now.
• Place flesh of squash in a medium bowl.
• Add sour cream, salt, nutmeg and nuts if using, mix until smooth.
• Fill each shell with the squash mixture.
• Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
• Place filled shells in baking dish.
• Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

TWICE-BAKED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees with the rack in center. Halve squash lengthwise, and remove seeds and fibers. Sprinkle squash halves with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Fill a roasting pan with 1/4 inch water. Place squash in pan. Cover with aluminum foil, and bake until squash is tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven, transfer squash to a cool surface, and let cool enough to handle. Reduce oven temperature to 425 degrees.
• Use a spoon to scoop baked flesh out of each half into a large bowl, leaving a 1/4-inch border around six of the halves so they will keep their shape. To the bowl, add sour cream, paprika, chives, and remaining teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Mix with a handheld electric mixer or potato masher until smooth and well combined. Season with salt and pepper. Fill six squash halves with mixture (discard remaining six empty halves). Sprinkle tops with toasted breadcrumbs. Bake until golden brown and warm throughout, 20 to 30 minutes. Serve.

TWICE-BAKED ACORN SQUASH WITH BACON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place squash, cut sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish. Bake 50 to 55 min. or until tender.
• Scoop out pulp, leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells. Place shells, cut sides up, in same baking dish. Combine pulp with spinach, shredded cheese, bacon bits, butter, green onions and pepper. Spoon into squash shells. Mix bread crumbs and Parmesan; sprinkle over filling.
• Bake 25 to 30 min. or until heated through.