Winter Squash And Walnut Spread Food

WINTER SQUASH AND WALNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and oil the foil. Place the squash on the baking sheet and rub or toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Place in the oven and bake until tender, 40 to 60 minutes depending on the type of squash and the size of the pieces. Every 15 minutes use tongs to turn the pieces over so different surfaces become browned on the foil. Remove from the oven and allow to cool, then peel and place in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse several times, scrape down the sides of the bowl, then purée until smooth.
• Heat another tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onion. Add a generous pinch of salt, turn the heat to medium low and cook, stirring often, until very tender, sweet and lightly caramelized, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and add to the squash. Add the mint, nutmeg, walnuts, Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon olive oil and pulse together. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve on croutons.

MEDITERRANEAN WALNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Drain garbanzo beans, reserving the liquid. In a blender or food processor bowl combine beans and 2 tablespoons of the reserved liquid, the walnuts, basil leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cover and blend until nearly smooth (scrap down sides and add additional reserved liquid if mixture appears stiff).
• Serve on toasted baguette slices or pita slices. Store, covered, in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Makes about 20 (1 tablespoon) servings.

WINTER SQUASH, APPLE AND WALNUT SOUP

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients except the walnuts pieces in a large saucepan and stir to blend well.
• Cook the soup over medium heat until warmed through, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and add a few chopped walnut pieces in the center.
• Yield: 6 servings.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place squash, cut side down, in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Pour water over squash. Bake until skin on squash is blistered and brown and flesh is tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Turn squash cut side up. Cool slightly. Scoop out flesh and transfer to medium bowl, leaving 1/3-inch-thick shell. Mash flesh. Add butter and stir until melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon squash back into shells. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm in 350°F oven until heated through, about 30 minutes.) Sprinkle squash with chopped walnuts and serve.