the holidays are stressful on just about everyone (yes, even that perfect relative who always seems to have everything together), especially when it comes to cooking. whether you're the adventurous host who's responsible for the entire feast, or just one bringing a random dish, let this great side dish squash those cooking fears away.
my grandmother, mimi, used to make these each and every holiday meal (and yes, she positively was one who had it all together...and flawlessly), so i recently reintroduced these to our dinner table. and. they. were. a. hit. even the pickiest of eaters scooped their squash clean, (i'm sure it had nothing to do with the melted brown sugar and butter). the slight hint of orange zest and nutmeg contrast the sugar, and complement the delicious flavors of the acorn squash. bring this to your table, and it's sure to be a hit.
here's what you need:
- 3-4 acorn squash (or one half per person you're serving)
- 2-3 tbsp. butter, sliced into thin pads for each half
- 2-3 tbsp. light or dark brown sugar
- 2 tsp. nutmeg
- 2 tsp. orange zest
- olive oil, for drizzling
here's how to do it:
preheat your oven to 450 degrees. cut the acorn squash in halves, and scoop out the middle seeds with a spoon. place one small pad of butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar in the center of each squash. sprinkle the nutmeg and orange zest evenly over all squash halves and give them a good drizzle of olive oil. roast for 45min-1 hour, or until the edges are golden and and the squash is fork tender.
