Everything’s Better with Butternut - The Winter Squash

The turning back of the clocks and the onset of evening as we leave our offices to head home after long days' work are telltale signs that winter's on its way. It's also indicative of the end of the growing season. So it should not be surprising to be finding the appropriately named winter squash at your local farmer's market.

There are few different varieties of squash that can be referred to as winter squash. They differ from summer squash in that they are harvested after the skin has become hard during the fall harvest. And yes, pumpkins can fall into this category, but for now we'll focus on butternut squash.

This somewhat pear-shaped vegetable has a creamy yellowish beige color with orange flesh inside. Select one that seems heavy proportionate to its size, and you should have a winner. The flavor is unlike summer squash, and more akin to pumpkin or sweet potato. But aside from the taste, you'll be doing your body good, with the high levels of beta carotene found in the butternut. Our bodies process this into Vitamin A. Couple this with the ample levels of Vitamin C also in the butternut, and you've got an excellent diet staple for those suffering from arthritis. Butternut squash is also a source of fiber, folate, manganese, potassium, and magnesium.

My local grocer advised me to split the butternut lengthwise, remove the seeds and place face down in a pan. Fill the pan with water about halfway up the side of the squash, and put in the oven at about 350 degrees and cook for about 45 minutes or until tender. Then scoop the tender insides out and serve with a little butter  to taste. But, of course that's not the only way to eat a butternut. Look around, the web is chock full of recipes for butternut squash. Nothing can take the chill out of you on a mid-autumn day quite like a hearty bowl of butternut squash soup. Or perhaps you prefer your squash as part of an entree, then check out these risotto and ravioli recipes.

And in case you were wondering, yes, the skin is edible. You may not want to eat it, but it is. No worries,you don't need to eat the skin, the majority of the nutrients are in the flesh. So what better time to link to a video describing how to peel a butternut squash...
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