Tag Archives: Squash

Autumn Recipes from A to Z

Tis the season to retreat to the kitchen to prepare warm comfort foods. Think hearty stews, soups, pumpkins, squash, turkey and other fall favorites. In an effort to encourage you to make the most of this season’s spectacular harvest I’ve compiled a collection of autumn recipes from A to Z featuring some of fall’s most popular ingredients. Whether you are cooking for two or two-dozen, the following quick and easy recipes will help make the most of fall’s bounty from apples to zucchini. Autumn Recipes: A is for Apple— DOUBLE APPLE DESSERT SALAD and WILD RICE AND APPLE SALAD. Autumn … Continue reading →

Fall Art Projects Featuring Squash

The price of squash is so incredibly low right now; stores are practically giving them away. I wonder if store managers know that the unusually shaped gourds have uses beyond Halloween? Squashes, gourds and pumpkins are ideal for Thanksgiving decorating. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the following art projects (tailored for older children and adults) that will help transform your dull dining room table into a seasonal masterpiece. Note: Adult supervision is recommended for the following crafts. SQUASH GEESE Your kids will have a blast carving ordinary squash into cute geese. Once the project is complete use the … Continue reading →

Simple Seasonal Dips You Can Make with Your Kids

In a previous blog I mentioned that my 4-year-old daughter is enrolled in a cooking class. She absolutely loves it and has fast become my second set of hands in the kitchen. Each week her teacher introduces a new theme, which is incorporated into all of the classroom activities (cooking, reading, art projects, etc.). With fall in full swing, acorn squash was this week’s featured ingredient. The recipe my daughter made is listed below. It couldn’t be simpler to make… and believe it or not my persnickety little eater actually tried some of it (which is another reason I enrolled … Continue reading →

Kid-Friendly Halloween Decorations Using Acorn Squash

My daughter’s cooking class teacher provided the directions to this next kid-friendly Halloween craft. In fact, she tailored an entire lesson around it. She had the kids decorate acorn squash to look like black cats and then they used the leftovers to make a yummy (and healthy) acorn squash veggie dip. The cooking class is geared towards kids ages 3-5 so keep that in mind when you are getting your children involved. The students did such an incredible job on their acorn squash cats it’s hard to believe that the project only requires a few short steps. All you need … Continue reading →

Seasonal Recipes for Acorn and Butternut Squash

If you are looking for an affordable way to get into the spirit of the fall season consider purchasing some acorn or butternut squash. For the past two weeks my local market has drastically reduced the prices of its squash and by the looks of the containers, which continue to overflow with the orange and yellow produce, not very many people are interested in taking advantage of the deal. If you are not used to cooking with acorn or butternut squash the following recipes might provide the incentive you need to get over your apprehension. The first recipe is as … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: B is for Butternut Squash

It’s not fall around here until butternut squash makes its way into a few dishes. The hearty bottle-shaped fruit (yes, fruit) is a seasonal favorite that can be used in everything from pies to rolls, soups to casseroles. (My daughter adores Butternut Squash Fries.) It’s not exactly a joy to peel, but the flavor it imparts makes prep time worth it. If you have never cooked with butternut squash before consider trying these simple recipes to start. They are fall favorites in my home and combine a few other autumnal flavors as well. BUTTERNUT SQUASH CASSEROLE Ingredients: 3 cups mashed, … Continue reading →

Recipes For End Of The Summer Produce

Now that you know the health benefits associated with consuming all that end of the summer produce that seems to be growing out of your ears it’s time to put your cooking skills to the test. The following are some quick, easy and delicious ways to make the most of your bumper crops of tomatoes, peppers and squash. A word about peppers and squash: Peppers can be stored in the refrigerator produce drawer up to one week or frozen whole for later use. Meanwhile, squash should stored unwashed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to one week. … Continue reading →

Nutrition 101: Health Benefits Of End Of The Summer Produce

Monday is Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer (or at least the end of summer vacation for many school kids). The long holiday weekend also marks the end of the gardening season, and if you are like my mom you likely have an abundance of tomatoes, peppers and squash (and have been generously doling out to friends, family and co-workers). In my mom’s case, her bumper crop has yielded so many tomatoes she’s been complaining that if she eats one more she’ll turn into a tomato herself. It got me thinking about the benefits of a diet high … Continue reading →

Creamy Squash Soup

Creamy Squash Soup 1 tablespoon of butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 1/2 pounds zucchini, sliced 7 ounces firm tofu, cubed 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon dried oregano 3 cups vegetable stock 1/3 cup cottage cheese Salt and pepper to taste Melt the butter and heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Mix in the onion, and cook 5 minutes. Mix in the zucchini and tofu. Season the soup with red pepper flakes and oregano. Continue to cook and stir 10 minutes, until zucchini is tender. Pour the vegetable stock into the … Continue reading →

Spaghetti For Your Lips But Not For Your Hips

The low carb craze may have died down, but many of us are still watching our carbohydrate intake. For me, the fewer “bad” carbs I eat (white flour, processed foods, sugar-laden bread, snacks, and pastas) the better I feel. My stomach feels and looks smaller, my energy levels increase, and I simply want to do more. One of the most difficult things to stop eating in this culture is pasta. It’s inexpensive, easy to prepare, and let’s face it—it’s delicious, with a variety of toppings. Kids love it and adults love it. Unfortunately, we often don’t stick to the correct … Continue reading →