I cannot believe it is almost winter and yes, we are sad that all those summer fruits are gone but hey, there are still tons of fruits and veggies to be excited about during the winter months. For me, my favorites must be winter squash. I love all the varieties, colors, and different flavors. And most of all I love being able to use all varieties for different recipes. One of my favorites is Butternut squash. This has a sweet nutty taste similar to that of a pumpkin. I use this squash to make a delicious soup, to keep my family warm during those chill days.
Easy soup recipe:
I choose a mid size butternut squash, cut in half. Take out seeds and use a little EVOO, salt and pepper and place in oven upside down for 30 mins at 375 degrees. Add a small onion and add an extra 30 mins in the oven to both. Once its cool enough add both to your blender with 4 cups of vegetable broth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add a couple cloves of garlic, 1⁄2 tbsp of maple syrup, 1/4 tsp of nutmeg, 1⁄4 ground ginger. Place on stove in medium heat until boil. Top off with pepitas and fresh parsley.
My second top favorite is the spaghetti squash. This one has a very mild, neutral flavor and it really reminds me of the slightly sweet pasta flavor but healthier. Which is why I use it for spaghetti topped with my homemade tomato sauce. I choose a larger size squash for this to maximize the inside content. I pierce squash a few times all over with a fork. Roast in the oven for about 1 hour in 400 degrees. Once it cools I cut in half, remove the seeds. Using a fork, I then scrape the rest of the squash to get long strands. In a sauce pan, add butter, add chopped onion, and garlic. Add the squash to pan, season with salt and pepper to taste. Add homemade tomato sauce, parsley, and Parmesan cheese to taste and voila a delicious and tasty meal.
There are many recipes for winter squash and you can interchange the many varieties. If you come to the Ventura Certified Farmers Markets you will find these Squash varieties: Butternut, Delicata, Kabocha, Acorn, Spaghetti and so many more. So, this season try a different kind and I am sure you and your family will love it.