Stuffed Acorn Squash

I'm forever trying new recipes.  Our whole family loves squash.  I would sound like Forest Gump naming all of the types of squash we like.  Usually, I make large squash with Smart Balance, sauteed onions, pepper, toasted nuts, and *sometimes* maple syrup or brown sugar.  It's not something I think of as a savory dish.  I found a recipe from Alton Brown, and I tweaked it.  It's definitely savory, but it's a very healthy meal with lots of depth and flavor.  I know that not everyone's children will eat the things our kids do, but I highly encourage you to let them choose from a healthy list of items to "toss" into this one.  When they are involved in making the choices, they're more likely to at least try a few bites.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Adapted from recipe by Alton Brown

Prep Time:25 min                Cook Time:1 hr 15 min      Level:Easy            Serves: 4 servings.

Ingredients:

•2 small acorn squash, 1 to 1 1/4 pounds each

•2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces

•1 andouille sausage, diced

•1 tablespoon olive oil

•1/4 cup chopped onion

•1/4 cup chopped celery

•1/4 cup chopped carrot

•1/2 cup white wine

•1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (with chicken broth)

•1 (10-ounce) package fresh spinach, steamed, drained and chopped

•1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

•Generous pinch kosher salt

•Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut 1-inch off the top of each acorn squash and scoop out the seeds. If necessary in order for the squash to sit upright, cut off a small portion of the bottom. Put 1 of the 4 pieces of butter in the cavity of each squash. Set squash on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large saute pan over medium heat, add the olive oil and saute the onion, celery, and carrot until they begin to soften, approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine.

Add the pork to the pan along with the cooked quinoa, spinach, salt and pepper, to taste. Stirring constantly, heat mixture thoroughly, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Divide the mixture evenly among the squash, top each squash with its lid and bake for 1 hour or until the squash is tender. Serve immediately.

"Laundry" vinyl

I am slowly learning how to fully utilize Sure Cuts A Lot 2 software for my Cricut. The large "L" was originally a western font, but I removed the notches on the sides and widened the base.  The scrolls were all added with the software, and some were welded together to visually fill dead space.  The remaining letters are Penhurst font, but I altered the "m" to not dip so low in order to maximize the 12x24 mat and vinyl.
I am redoing my laundry room, so before and after pictures are coming.  We still have quite a bit to do, but I'm incredibly excited.