Winter Squash, better than pumpkin pie

[knappschiles]

Since I grow a lot of winter squash, of course I eat a fair amount too.This recipe is how I like to make it when I'm not doing it "plain".

I'm not a "by the book" type of cook. I'm a little of this and more of that. Anything in this recipe can have more or less  or even be left out if it's something you don't like.

Any kind of winter squash. Get something big enough for your family. If you want to make this into a pie that would work too. Winter squash make a better tasting "pumpkin" pie than most pumpkins do as most of them are too stringy and not very sweet at all.

Bake or microwave the squash til it's soft all over. If it's a big squash, the oven is better and will actually make it tast sweeter. If you baked it whole instead of cleaning out the seeds first, you will need to let it cool down quite a bit to clean it before continuing.

Scoop out all the squash into a baking or microwavable dish.

Add what you want of the following -

Just a bit of butter. Not too much. If the squash is rather dry, add some sour cream instead of more butter. The sour cream brings out the "pumpkin" taste without making it greasy.

Just a bit of brown sugar or sweetener of your choice. Taste before adding too much. Some squash can be sweeter than you would expect.

Any of the "pumpkin pie" or "apple pie" type spices. - Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamon, alspice, whatever you have or like.

A handful of raisins.

A handful of shredded coconut.

Some crushed Pineapple.

This comes out like a pudding desert. Or you could even make it into a pie by adding some more milk/sour cream and some eggs. Check a can of "pumpkin" pie mix or your favorite pie recipe.

Carol

[2boysandtoys]

Carol - sounds super yummy!!!!  A quick question for you or anyone - I need a recipe for zucchini bread.  I owned the veggie tray for yesterday's event - and outa 50 family members...I must be the only one that likes zucchini - as I gotta bunch left!!

Anybody got a super yummy recipe - I'm in a baking mood today/tonight!! 

[knappschiles]

I do have a good "quick bread" recipe that works well with zucchini, pumpkin or Banana.



Pumpkin Nut Bread (or Banana or Winter Squash)

1 ¾ C. brown sugar                  ¼ tsp. salt
½ C. (1 stick) butter or margarine             1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs                        1 ¼ C. all purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla                     1 ¼ C. whole wheat flour
1 ½ C. squash - cooked, cooled, mashed         ½ C. yogurt or buttermilk
   (or bananas - mashed or zucchini, shredded, not cooked)               
nuts and or raisins optional up to 1 C. each
Spices to taste   ½ tsp. each of any or all of the following
Allspice   Nutmeg   Cloves   Mace      Ginger      Cardamon   Coriander   Cinnamon
or 1 tsp. (or more to taste) Pumpkin Pie Spice

1) Cream butter and sugar together
2) Beat in eggs and vanilla
3) Add squash or bananas
4) Mix all dry ingredients together
5) Add dry mix to batter a bit at a time, alternating with a bit of the yogurt or buttermilk
6) Grease but do not flour, 2 loaf pans or 1 -  2 qt. cake pan
7) Bake at 350° for about 45 - 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

The yogurt and brown sugar makes this a nice moist loaf.

Carol

[2boysandtoys]

Carol - sounds super....duper - I don't have any wheat flour hanging around (and ... Black Friday is a day I avoid shopping) - any substitute ideas?  If not, I'll get the flour in the AM and do it tomorrow!! 

[knappschiles]

Erin,

I think it would work just fine with all just plain flour. It's just that the whole wheat makes it a bit more nutritous and may  make it a bit more "heavy" or gritty.

Carol

[QUILT]

Tell ya what...

Carol you make it with whole wheat flour and Erin you make it with white flour and both of you send me a loaf.  Of course the first time out it will probably be a tie and you will both have to send me yet another loaf so I can determine which is a favorite, however I don't mind.

Happy in my little world isn't it? Thats not a question

[2boysandtoys]

Quilt - you are cracking me up!!!! 

Carol - I, of course, got a tad bit distracted!  So - I'll 'see' what my body/mind/soul thinks tomorrow and I'll circle back!  I may have enuf zucchini to make a loaf each way....  

[QUILT]

Hey forget the bread did you ever make Mock Apple Pie?  I used to make it allllllllllllll the time.  Loved it and no one knew that it was zucchini and not apples.  I'll see if I can find the recipe for you.  Boy was it good.   

[knappschiles]

Yah, zucchini is one of those versitile things. Because it doesn't really have much flavor of it's own, you can put it in almost anything and it will "hide" there.

Because of the unique rules of the Madison farmers market, I couldn't sell my hot jams there ( I don't grow the fruit in them) until I reformulated them to be 80% zucchini (I do grow the zucchini) and just 20% friut + some flavor extract. No one could really tell that they weren't all fruit.

Carol

[2boysandtoys]

Quilt - that sounds good also.....the 'good news' - if it's PIE - I won't eat it.  If it's bread, it's all mine....so pondering the reality - I guess I better have both!!! 

Carol - I agree that it's low on flavor, but I do 'like it' - prolly cuz of the ranch (Love Ranch Dressing with ANYTHING)!! 

[texastreasures]

Do any of you ever try stuffing and baking squash? I do it with zucchini and crookneck, it oughta work with winter squash too. I use the big ones that are too large and tough for fried squash or salads anymore. Scoop out the seeds from a halved squash and stuff it with anything..bacon bits, cheese, onions, bell peppers, salsa, or just plain butter and spices. Put the halves back together and wrap it in foil, then bake until tender. Soooo good!

[QUILT]

That sounds delicious