Here’s another impressive option for entertaining – guests eat from individual squash bowls. The organic greens make a perfect side. The original recipe calls for ground turkey. This time, I made it with bacon. Outcome: great success!
hope this makes your belly smile…
Adapted from Developing a Pattern
Ingredients
2 to 3 acorn squash, halved by cutting lengthwise through the stem, seeded and stringy fleshy stuff removed (Tip: microwave for 1 minute prior to slicing)
1 T. olive oil, separated into 1/4 teaspoons
Several pinches of sea salt/freshly ground black pepper
1 c. uncooked quinoa (alternative: farro, barley, cous cous, etc.)
4 slices preservative free bacon, chopped
1 T. olive oil
1 large organic carrot, finely diced
1 organic bell pepper, finely diced (red, yellow, or orange peppers = a sweeter flavor)
1 small onion, finely diced
1 stalk organic celery, finely diced
1/4 t. each sea salt
1/4 t. black pepper, freshly ground
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 t. chopped fresh thyme (1/4 t. if using dried)
1/4 c. feta cheese
1/2 c. mild organic white cheese (ideas: Gouda, Fontina, Mozzarella)
Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Add olive to each squash half. Rub around to coat the flesh. Generously season the flesh with sea salt and pepper. Roast in the oven on a baking sheet, open side up, until softened and slightly brown (about 35-45 minutes).
In the meantime, cook the quinoa according to package directions. I like to substitute water with chicken or veggie stock, but that’s up to you.
Now that the quinoa is doing it’s thing, heat a large skillet to medium heat. Add the olive oil to coat the pan. Add the bacon and cook until it begins to render some fat (about five minutes). Reduce the heat to near medium. Add the carrots, bell pepper, onion, celery, and 1/4 teaspoon each sea salt/pepper. Saute until the veggies have softened (about 5 minutes). Add the garlic and thyme and cook until the garlic is fragrant (about a minute). Remove from the heat and stir in the feta and cooked quinoa.
Remove the stuff the squash from the oven. Set the oven to broil Stuff the quash with the quinoa mixture (really pack it in good). Sprinkle the cheese atop. Broil for 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese and brown it ever so slightly.
Organic Greens
Salad Ingredients
Organic greens of your choice
¼ c. chopped walnuts
1/2 red onion, sliced
¼ c. shredded Parmesan cheese
Dressing Ingredients
3 T. white wine vinegar
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 T. Dijon mustard
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions: Add dressing ingredients to a glass jar and shake vigorously.
weeatforreal.com 