Harvest Dinner Stuffed Winter Squash

Preheat the oven to 375. Halve butternuts and scoop out the seeds. Eye the squash to decide the amount of stuffing you will need. Place in a baking dish, skin side down, and cover with foil. Bake for 20-30 minutes until still firm, but starting to soften. Meanwhile….

Either use leftover whole grains or cook some up fresh. My preference is a mix of wild  or purple rice and brown rice, but I have used barley, whole grain wheat, rye and millet. 

Sauté leeks or onions, garlic and a mix of vegetables (all cut up fine) in olive oil. My preference is carrots, sweet potatoes and kale with a smaller amount of rutabaga, celeriac and turnip. Mix in a cheese of choice. Feta is delicious; soft, flavored goat cheese great. Mix in the grains. Add a smattering of unusual goodies like capers, dried cranberries, golden raisins or cherries. Add curry powder, salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle some pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds on top.

Fill the squash and cover with foil. I have loaded the entire top of the baking dish when I’ve made too much filling and it has worked just fine. Cook until the squash is soft. Take the cover off and cook for 3-5 minutes more. 

This is from our own Karen Romanowski. It's the recipe she used to make the stuffed squash at our harvest dinner in November. (Karen Levine loved this one!!)  She says " it's a non-recipe recipe. The ingredients are very flexible, as are the amounts. Stuff any winter squash. Butternuts are great, but it’s been delicious in all varieties. It can be more grain-y or more vegetable-y, use whatever you have, just don’t forget a little curry powder."