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!
10 More Dirty Restaurant Tricks
5 Things You Didn't Know About Turducken
10 Catchiest Food Jingles We Love to Hate
