Fall Recipes: Gold Nugget Squash

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Eliot

I picked up a Gold Nugget squash the other day to give it a try. I've always loved acorn and butternut squash but had never tried this variety. It has a rough textured skin the color of pumpkin and it can be microwaved whole or baked. It can also be substituted for acorn squash if you can't find Gold Nugget.

To microwave: Poke 4-5 holes in the skin with a fork. Cook for 8-10 minutes in the microwave until the skin is softer and the flesh in tender. Smaller squash may cook faster.

Baked Gold Nugget Squash

Ingredients
3-4 Gold Nugget Squash
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut each squash into 6 wedges. Remove seeds and pulp from the pieces. Place the squash in a baking pan or casserole, drizzling with the oil. Season with salt and pepper, then turn the pieces over so the skin is up and the flesh is on the botton. Bake for 20 minutes, turn over the pieces and bake for 20 more minutes or until tender.

Squash and Apple Bake
Virginia State Apple Board

Ingredients:
2 Sweet Dumpling or Golden Nugget squash (about 1 1/4 pounds each)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1 large Granny Smith apple, cored and diced
1/8 tsp. ground white pepper
1 medium leek, white part only, thinly sliced

Pierce the squash in 3 or 4 places with the tip of a sharp knife. Place the squash on a double layer of paper towels on the floor of the oven. Microwave on high for 4 minutes. Turn the squash and microwave on high for 4 to 6 minutes longer, or until it just begins to feel soft when gently squeezed. Let stand until cooled, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a 2-quart oval casserole or 9-inch glass pie plate, combine the oil, lemon juice, apple, leek, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and pepper. Cover tightly with a lid or vented plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 5 minutes, or until the apple and leek are quite soft. Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Scoop the pulp from the squash into the casserole with the apple mixture. Mash the squash with the back of a spoon while stirring in the apple and leek to combine. Spoon the mixture back into the casserole or pie plate. Cover loosely with a lid or vented plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 4 to 6 minutes, or until heated through. Makes 4 servings.

Winter Squash Soup

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1 large sweet onion chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
3 15 ounce cans chicken broth
3 pounds winter squash, Gold Nugget works well.
1 1/4 tsp. fresh thyme
1 1/4 tsp. fresh minced sage
1/4 cup cream or half and half

Peel halve and seed the squash, then cut into chunks. Melt the butter in large pot on medium heat. Add the onion and garlic to the butter and cook until softened,8-10 minutes. Add the broth, squash and herbs. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until squash is tender, about 20 minutes. Puree soup in blender for a smooth soup or mash with potato masher for more texture. Return to pan and season with salt and pepper before serving if desired.

On OFL we have an article with recipe for Roasted Butternut Soup:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/Roasted-Butternut-Squash-Soup.html

~Brenda