Recipe—Baked Acorn Squash

I have a confession to make, I know this will make me sound like a total blonde but I want to be sure you all know I’m human and that I don’t know everything about cooking. I am still learning every day. So here I go… until I got my first acorn squash in my organic produce box a few weeks back I thought they were a decorative item. Seriously. Okay, go ahead and laugh now.  I remember seeing them in the grocery stores with all the gourds and pumpkins every fall but I was oblivious to the fact that people actually ate them. I am so glad I discovered that these were in fact edible because they are delicious and I now love cooking with them. I am sharing a recipe for a classic oven baked acorn squash. This is a really sweet treat and a fun way to enjoy the veggie. These squash remind me of my favorite Thanksgiving side dish, sweet potatoes with brown sugar and pecans. Yum! Depending on how many people I have over for turkey day this year I may just even make these instead. Why not mix it up and break out of tradition?

INGREDIENTS
1 acorn squash
1 tbsp butter, softened
salt
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp maple syrup

STEPS

• Preheat oven to 400º.
• Carefully cut acorn squash in half and using a spoon clean out the seeds and stringy pulp.
• Coat the inside of each squash half with the softened butter and sprinkle with salt.
• Add 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar to the cavity of each half.
• Drizzle a teaspoon of maple sugar over each half.
• Put a 1/4” of water in a baking dish (This keeps the squash from drying out.)
• Place the prepared acorn squash in the water cut side up.
• Bake squash for 1 hour or until they are soft and easily pierced with a fork.
• Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.