Sweet Meat Squash

I have never been a big squash fan.

But I do enjoy eating what I've

grown in my garden.

This year I grew an abundance

of colorful squash and didn't

want to lose the opportunity

to preserve the harvest.

Below are

Rouge Vif D'Etampes pumpkins,

Carnival Acorn Squash

and

silvery blue Sweet Meat Squash

which my Dad was so fond of.

Last night I cooked up one of the Sweet Meat squash

for our evening meal.

It.was.good!

Here is what I did~

Because winter squash have a hard rind,

you will need to help your large knife

with a little persuasion ~ a hammer!

Cut/chop your squash in half.

Scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp and

discard, compost, feed to your chickens

 or wash the seeds for roasting.

(Wash and completely dry seeds.

Toss 1 1/2 C. dry seeds with

2T. melted butter

1T salt, garlic salt or other seasoned salt.

Spread out in single layer on baking sheet.

Bake 275* for 15-20 minutes or until

lightly browned.)

Continue to cut your squash into quarters.

Place squash into a parchment lined baking

pan skin side up.

Bake at 350* for 30-40 minutes

or until easily pierced with a fork.

(Sorry, forgot to get a picture of this part)

Carefully remove from pan and scoop the flesh into a bowl.

(I let mine cool till easily handled without getting burned.)

I used and old fashioned potato masher to

'squash' my squash. ;~P

I set half of the squash aside for putting into freezer bags
and freezing for later use.

With the remaining squash

I added butter and brown sugar and

salt and pepper to taste and warmed it in the oven, covered,

and served.

~*~

There are a variety of ways to serve your squash but

this is how my Gramma did it so that is how I do it, too!

This squash also makes delicious 'Pumpkin Pie'!