"acorn squash" news and stories

Happy National Acorn Squash Day!

We wonder how many of you are as eager as we are for summer to draw to a close, so that we can replace sweating and sorbets with sweaters, soups, stews and squash dishes of all sorts. Although squash encompasses a large variety of sizes, shapes and colors, it is primarily divided into two categories: summer squash (zucchini, crookneck, etc.), which have soft seeds and edible skins, and winter squash, with hard skin and firmer flesh and seeds.

As its name implies, acorn squash falls under the latter category, and is most frequently roasted. To make your own acorn squash, simply cut the squash in half, remove the seeds, drizzle with some oil, salt and pepper and roast until tender. As for seasonings, the sky's the limit -- sprinkle with dried spices, fresh herbs, flavored oils, or even sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for extra flavor.

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We all know and love pumpkin, but here are a few familiar and unfamiliar wonderful winter squash cousins -- and ways to prepare them.

Photo: Erica George Dines Photography.

This time of year, one of the most delicious seasonal foods to grill is winter squash. Butternut, acorn and sugar pumpkin all benefit from the smokiness and caramelized flavors that the grill imparts.

And there are so many ingredients that complement winter squash -- from sage and thyme to sweeter flavors like orange, maple and bourbon. Even sausage and bacon are perfect matches for this fall favorite.

Grilled winter squash make a nice addition to everything from risotto to salads and can be a great side to serve with roasted meats or as a main vegetarian dish. Some of my favorite cheeses -- like goat, blue cheese and feta -- round out the smoky sweetness for melt-in-your-mouth flavor.

The term squash covers a whole host of scrumptious fruits - yes, they are fruits.

They are grouped basically into summer squash and winter squash. Summer squash is harvested as an immature fruit, and winter squash is harvested in the fall or winter when it has ripened. Zucchini is probably the most commonly used summer squash, and winter squashes include everyone's favorites: butternut, buttercup, acorn, pumpkin, and spaghetti squash. The skin of a winter squash is hard, and requires cooking.

Squash can be a great, healthier alternative to potato or pasta in many recipes. Here are eight great ways to serve up squash, starting with one you don't have to cook:

1. Carpaccio of Raw Zucchini
2. Smoked Sausage, Butternut Squash, and Wild Rice Soup
3. Winter Squash Mash (with kabocha squash)
4. Best Ever Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (works with other winter squash seeds, too)
5. Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Butter
6. Yellow Squash Casserole
7. Herbed Spaghetti Squash (if you fail, just dump tomato sauce on it and lie)
8. Pumpkin Pie Straight from the Pumpkin

These recipes are varied enough that you could make them all for one giant meal and have a squash feast! If there's someone in your life you have to lie to about there being squash in what they're eating, spaghetti squash with pasta sauce is usually a safe bet. Or, you can totally get away with soup - picky eaters often don't pay attention to the broth, just the stuff floating in there. Good luck and happy squashing!

Acorn squash is one of the many vegetables I look forward eating in the fall. Aesthetically, Acorn squash is nature's masterpiece with its distinctive longitudinal ridges and sweet yellow-orange flesh and its shape that resembles that of an acorn. Although it's available in the fall, acorn squash belongs to the same species as summer squashes, such as zucchini and yellow crookneck squash.

The sweetness of Acorn Squash makes it a delicious vegetable to eat baked, sauteed, and steamed. It's high in fiber and potassium. Not only can you eat its flesh, but you can also toast its seeds and snack on them.

Below are 8 ways to devour acorn squash:

1. Savory ricotta-squash tart
2. Mashed acorn squash with apples
3. Acorn squash and pear pie
4. Roasted squash with maple syrup and sage cream
5. Beet soup in roasted acorn squash
6. Garam masala scallops over acorn squash
7. Apple-filled acorn squash rings with curry butter
8. Orzo and cheese baked in acorn squash