Butternut Squash

I love the flavor of butternut squash!  Yes, it's a pain to peel and cut.  (Break out the machete and the chainsaw, right?)  My favorite way to cook it is to roast it in a pan with sweet potatoes.

One butternut squash, peeled and cubed
Two or three sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
olive oil
salt to taste

Toss veggies in oil and spread on a sheet pan.  Sprinkle with salt and roast in a 375 oven until soft and tender.  (30 minutes? 45?  Not sure how long...just keep in the oven til done.)

However, you can buy frozen butternut squash puree in the frozen vegetable section at the supermarket, and it is a very versatile ingredient.  It makes a wonderful pasta sauce...

One box frozen squash puree, thawed
1/2 cup chicken broth
splash of heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
packaged cheese tortilloni
steamed shrimp, 1 lb, peeled
fresh sage, chopped fine

Cook tortilloni according to directions.  Drain.  In a large pan, combine squash and chicken broth, along with salt and pepper.  Simmer for a few minutes to reduce the mixture then add a spash or two of cream.  Stir in shrimp, tortilloni and chopped sage, stir till heated through.  Sprinkle with a little parmesan cheese and serve to your happy children.  Or eat it all yourself.

I wonder if the squash puree would work in the pumpkin muffin recipe I last posted? Hmm...

Butternut squash...a mild and homey taste of fall.

Gettin' My Pumpkin On

A friend shared this recipe...I hate to even call it a recipe, it's that easy.  Let's call it an 'idea'.  A friend shared this idea with me, and at first I was all "Shut the front door!  Are you serious?"  And she was all, "Totally serious!" And I was all, "Yeah, that can't possibly work."

But it does!  And if you all already know about this...idea...don't rain on my parade because I am totally psyched.

Take one box spice cake mix.
Mix with one 15 oz can pumpkin puree.

Scoop into muffin pan and bake at 350 for 20 min.

No eggs.  No oil.  and yet...heavenly.

What are you sitting around for? GO GET YOUR PUMPKIN ON!