Growing at the Speed of Life - A Year in the Life of My First Kitchen Garden

SQUASH (WINTER)

Basic Preparation

I like to use roasted rounds of butternut squash
as a booster to modest portions of meat. Peel
and cut the squash into even 1-inch disks and
roast at 350ºF for 45 minutes. Serve as a croûte
(base) with smaller portions (about 4 ounces)
of meat. The squash gives the traditional cen­
terpiece of the dish greater prominence while
reducing the actual amount of meat served.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH



BAKED WITH TAMARI

This is an excellent excuse to use the great fl a­
vor of tamari, a smoother, more balanced, and
more complex variation of soy sauce. It is avail­
able in the Asian section of most supermarkets.
SERVES 6

1 butternut or acorn squash, about 3 pounds
1 tablespoon low-sodium tamari or soy sauce
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop
out and discard the seeds and pulp. Cut each
half, again lengthwise, into 3 wedges. If you are
using acorn squash, cut each half into 2 wedges.
Set the squash wedges in a 12-inch greased

baking dish. Brush with the tamari and season

with black pepper. Coat lightly with olive oil

cooking spray. Bake 45 minutes or until the

squash is soft. You can brush it with tamari

once again before serving.

Per serving : 79 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 20 g

carbohydrate, 1 g protein, 5 g dietary fi ber, 108 mg

sodium. Exchanges: 1 Starch

BUTTERNUT SQUASH



GINGER CHEESECAKE

Here is an unusual use for a vegetable and

a  kind of pumpkin pie alternative. Butternut

squash is used for a molded cheesecake, which

does a great job on Thanksgiving for a creative

change.

SERVES 12

For the Filling

1 small butternut squash, cut in half and

seeded

2 packets unfl avored gelatin

½ cup water

¾ cup packed dark brown sugar

1½ cups 2% cottage cheese

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

¾ cup yogurt cheese (see page 290)

For the Crust

18 dried figs, stalk ends removed

1 cup broken ginger snap cookies

242 • GROWING AT THE SPEED OF LIFE