Sunny Squash Recipes

SUNNY'S QUICK WILD RICE AND SAUSAGE STUFFED SQUASH

Steps:

• For the squash: Prick the squash all over with a fork. Place on a plate and microwave, flipping halfway through, until cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool until easy to handle.
• Cut off the squash stem, then cut the squash in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop the flesh into a large bowl, discarding the seeds and leaving about 1/4 inch of flesh within the skin to help maintain its shape. Level off the squash halves so they rest without tilting by cutting a tiny slice off each skin side. Place on a baking sheet, flesh-side up.
• Add the rice, bocconcini, raisins, walnuts, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper to the bowl with the scooped squash and mix well to combine.
• For the sausage: Add the olive oil, onions, sausage, curry powder, thyme and salt and pepper to taste to a large pan over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking up the sausage into small crumbles, until the sausage is cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes. Add to the bowl with the squash and stir to combine.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Fill the hollowed squash halves with the mixture and roast it until the cheese melts and the tops are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with the cilantro, drizzle over some olive oil and serve warm.

SUNNY'S ITALIAN SAUSAGE-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• For the squash: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the squash on a baking sheet flesh-side up and rub with the olive oil. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Roast until the edges begin to ripple and a poke with a fork reveals tender flesh, about 40 minutes. Allow to cool until easy to handle.
• Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh into a large bowl, leaving about 1/4 inch of flesh within the skin of each squash half to help it maintain its shape.
• For the filling: In a large pan on medium-high heat, add the olive oil and sausage. While cooking, break the sausage into bits like ground meat with a wooden spoon. Once some of the fat is rendered from the sausage, add the onions, paprika, pumpkin pie spice, sage, celery, bell peppers and a pinch of salt. Cook until the sausage is done and the vegetables are tender.
• Add the mixture to the bowl of squash along with the cheese, walnuts and cranberries and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Fill the hollowed squash halves with the mixture and place back in the oven to melt the cheese and make the tops golden brown, 15 more minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.

GRANDMA WILLIAMS'S SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Put the squash in a large pot and fill with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain in a fine-mesh sieve and press the squash with the back of a spoon to remove the excess water.
• Preheat the oven to 350 ̊ F. Transfer the squash to a blender. Add the butter and flour and blend until pureed. Add the sugar, lemon extract and eggs. Blend until smooth. Evenly divide the filling among the pie shells. (If using refrigerated pie dough instead of frozen crusts, ease into three 9-inch pie pans and crimp the edges before filling.)
• Bake until the filling is set, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let the pies cool to room temperature before slicing.

SUNNY SQUASH

Steps:

• 1. After you cut up the squash put it in a big frying pan with 3 Tablespoons of Coconut oil I also added a little water(mix while cooking). As it cooks add the onions, and than the garlic. Now sprinkle on some of the Turmeric, and Italian seasonings, or parsley I would say about a teaspoon each. Keep a lid on so it will cook faster, and just before it is done sprinkle on the Grated Parmesan Cheese.

RICE STUFFED SUNBURST / PATTY PAN SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• Use a saute pan (with a lid) that will fit your 4 whole squash evenly. Add about 3 inches of water, lightly salt it and bring to a boil. Make sure your squash sit nice and flat -- cut off a bit on the bottom if need be, just not too much or you'll go through.
• Place your squash in the boiling water, cover and allow it to cook for about 10 minutes, until just fork tender. While the squash cooks, chop up your other ingredients.
• Once the squash is done, remove them gently and set them aside. Drain the water and clean out your pan.
• Returning the pan to the stove, heat the 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add in the onion and cook for about 5-7 minutes, until translucent. Add in the garlic and cook for just a few minutes, watching it doesn't burn.
• Add in the raw rice and stir to coat. Add in the broth and bring to a boil. Depending on your broth, you may want to season with salt and pepper. Once at a boil, reduce the heat and cover. Cook for 45 minutes - at which time the rice should be cooked and liquid fully absorbed. (Depending on your rice, you may need slightly longer).
• While the rice cooks, cut the tops off of the squash (just below the green part). You want enough of a opening to work with, without wasting too much of the squash. Next, scoop out some of the insides being careful not to break through the sides or bottom. I like to score a circle using a paring knife and then scoop out with a regular teaspoon. It's basically the seedy part you want to remove, you don't have to take much from around the sides. You can chop up parts of what you scoop out and add it into the rice mixture. Set your squash aside again.
• Preheat your oven to 375. Have a baking dish ready (lightly oiled, or foil if you prefer).
• When the rice is done, take it off the heat and add in the 1/2 cup of parmesan, the fresh basil and spinach. Mix.
• Time to assemble. Using the 1 tsp of olive oil, lightly brush the outsides of the squash. Next, stuff the rice mixture into the hollow -- you can pack quite a bit in there, and have a bit overflowing on top. Place into the baking dish and finish by sprinkling the 1 tbsp of parmesan over top.
• Bake for 20 minutes.

SAUTEED PATTY PAN SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat until foaming, 1 to 2 minutes. Saute onion in the olive oil-butter until tender and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add squash and garlic; season with lemon pepper. Saute mixture until squash is easily pierced with a fork, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Mix spinach, parsley, and basil into squash mixture; saute until spinach wilts, about 1 minute. Squeeze lemon juice over mixture and sprinkle in Parmesan cheese; stir well. Season mixture with salt and black pepper.