Green Options » butternut squash

Simple Seasonal Spread: Curried Roasted Butternut Squash Hummus

Melissa Elliott — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:07:01 +0000

This fast, simple spread will add a kick to your typical hummus, as well as some essential vitamins. Make use of the abundant butternut squash this season and serve it at your next party.

Curried Roasted Butternut Squash Hummus Spread
Recipe courtesy of Celine Steen at Have Cake, Will Travel

2 cups chopped roasted butternut squash [400F oven, butternut squash cut in 8 pieces, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with fresh milled pepper, coarse sea salt, 45 minutes or until tender]
1 14oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 big garlic clove, grated
1 Tbsp roasted peanut oil
1/4 cup tahini
juice of 1/2 medium lemon, about 2 Tbsp
1 generous Tbsp curry powder
pinch ground cumin
pinch coarse sea salt + more pepper, if desired.

Throw all the ingredients in your food processor or blender, blend until smooth, scraping the sides with a rubber spatula to make sure everything gets blended well.
Serve chilled, at room temperature, or even warm, with crackers, pita bread, or chips. Makes about 3 cups.

Celine Steen is the author of the blog Have Cake, Will Travel, as well as co-author of the upcoming book “500 Vegan Recipes” by Fair Winds Press.

Seasonal Foods: 5 Best Winter Vegetables

Jessica Mordo — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:05:08 +0000

Winter veggies usually get short shrift, but there are many reasons to savor them. They add loads of vitamins and nutrients to our diets, do wonders for our immunity, and are wonderfully versatile. Plus, eating seasonally is eating green: as it takes us back to the old days of eating only the freshest available products, it’s a more sustainable eating model and it’s better for reducing our carbon footprints.

Here’s my guide to making the most of these five fabulous winter veggies:

1. Play Squash

I actually look forward to winter just for its squash varieties. Acorn, banana, butternut, spaghetti, delicata, hubbard, sweet dumpling, buttercup, and turban squashes—not to mention pumpkin—add a colorful and sweet accent to your plate. Plus, they are among the healthiest types of complex carbohydrates (the best kind of carbs), with high fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C content. Roast ‘em, mash ‘em, or slow cook ‘em into a heaping bowl of soupy goodness for the perfect warm winter meal.

Sweeten The Harvest With Butternut-Vanilla Bean Soup

Kelli Best-Oliver — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:18:55 +0000

Although fall means the end of summer’s abundance of produce, the end-of-season crops are nothing to sneeze at. Butternut squash, with its earthy sweetness and versatility, can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. I whipped up this simple, hearty soup from local squash, then froze the extra for quick lunches throughout the season.

What makes this soup extra special is its creamy sweetness and vanilla flavor; it’s practically a dessert soup. You can alter the sugar to taste, but I like the hint of sweetness that the small amount listed here provides. Roasting the squash imparts a deeper, richer flavor as well. The recipe, after the jump…

Five Fall Foods That Will Boost Your Health (And Meal Ideas, Too)

Kelli Best-Oliver — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:00:10 +0000

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When the summer heat breaks and the first cool days arrive, I feel melancholy, because it means the end of our local farmers market is nigh and the variety of summer produce will soon be gone. While I savor the rest of our ripening tomatoes, my thoughts turn to fall’s produce, with its rich red and orange hues, mirroring the turning leaves. Fall produce reminds me of rich, hearty dishes that fill you up during the harvest season. Here are five fall fruits and vegetables (and meal ideas) that are great sources of nutrition and the basis of many delicious dishes.
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Why Clearance Carts at the Grocery Store are Super Cool

Jillian Polaski — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:09:02 +0000

I am a clearance shopper. I love a bargain, especially when I’m getting a really quality product at a super low price. The challenge of the hunt is a huge part of the fun and there’s nothing better than being rewarded with a new sweater or pair of shoes, or even, say, some eggplant. It used to be that I wouldn’t even think of shopping the clearance cart at the grocery store. I was afraid to buy old food, just this side of moldy.