DOCSLIB.ORG

Squash Educator Newsletter.Indd

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Squash Educator Newsletter.Indd Educator Newsletter Health and Learning Success Go Hand-in-Hand Studies report improved test scores and memory function among students who eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables and get physical activity FFreshresh every day. The goal of Smart Choices is to help students eat healthy and be active. ffromrom tthehe Exploring Winter Squash Offering activities that allow students to experience fruits and vegetables using their senses engages them in the learning process and creates increased interest, awareness and support for increased consumption. Tools: FFaarm ■ Three to fi ve different winter squash varieties, whole and sliced* ■ One variety per every four students ■ Nutrition labels for each variety (www.nutritiondata.com) ■ Dry erase board, markers *See What’s in a Name? on page 2 for varieties. Sensory Exploration Activity: ■ Examine squash noting color (skin and fl esh), texture, sound and smell* ■ Chart observations on board ■ Analyze nutrition information ■ Chart three highest nutrient levels ■ Compare and contrast varieties ■ Discuss differences in nutrient levels and how they may be related to characteristics like skin color *Note: Tasting raw winter squash is not recommended. For more ideas, reference: The Power of Choice, USDA, 2003, pp. 41- 51. Cooking in Class: Spicy Reasons to Eat Apple-Filled Squash Winter Squash Ingredients: One serving of cooked winter Makes 32 tastes at ¼ cup each squash provides:* ■ 4 large winter squash (about 4 ■ An excellent source of Vitamin A, pounds) most in the form of beta carotene. ■ 8 teaspoons butter Vitamin A is a central component for ■ 4 large apples, chopped healthy vision and the antioxidant ■ ¼ cup brown sugar beta carotene helps fi ght off ■ 1 teaspoon cinnamon cancer-causing free radicals. ■ ½ teaspoon ground cloves ■ An excellent source of Vitamin C ■ ½ teaspoon nutmeg and a good source of potassium. Nutrition Facts ■ Small plates and forks ■ Six grams of dietary fi ber, an Serving size 1 cup, cooked, cubes (205g) Cut squash into halves and scoop excellent source for this complex Amount per Serving out seeds. Place in glass dish and carbohydrate. cover with plastic wrap. Microwave *Nutrient levels are an average for winter Calories 76 Calories from Fat 6g on high for 5 minutes. Melt butter squash varieties. Individual varieties may % Daily Value in separate dish. Mix in apples, have more or less of certain vitamins and minerals. Total Fat 1g 1% sugar and spices and microwave Saturated Fat 0g 1% for additional 1- 2 minutes. Spoon Trans Fat 0g apple fi lling into each squash Cholesterol 0mg 0% halve. Cover and microwave on Sodium 2mg 0% high for 3 - 5 minutes until squash Total Carbohydrate 18g 6% and apples are tender. Cut and Dietary Fiber 6g 23% serve warm. Sugars 7g Adapted from: Discover the Secret to Protein 2g Healthy Living, Public Health Institute, 2004. Vitamin A 214% Vitamin C 33% Calcium 5% Iron 5% Source: www.nutritiondata.com How Much Do I Need? Just the Facts A serving of cooked winter squash is about one cup ■ Referred to as a vegetable in cooking, cubed. Children may not be able to eat this much. Try squash are actually fruits of vines of the serving a smaller amount to help them reach their total Cucurbita genus. amount of fruits and vegetables for the day. ■ Native Americans believed squash seeds increased fertility and called squash “the Recommended Daily Amounts of Fruits apple of God.” and Vegetables* ■ In Native American, the word “squash” Ages 5 - 12 Ages 13 and older means “eaten raw” but winter squash are almost 2 ½ - 5 cups per day 3 ½ - 6 cups per day never eaten raw. *Ranges take into account three activity levels: sedentary, ■ Besides the fruit, other edible parts moderately active and active. For example, active individuals of squash plants include the seeds (eaten whole, should aim to eat the higher number of cups per day. toasted, ground into paste or pressed for oil); Visit www.mypyramid.gov to learn more. shoots, leaves and tendrils (eaten as greens); and Student Sleuths blossoms (used for cooking and decoration). 1 What are some nutritional benefits of winter squash? Sources: How do the nutrients vary between different color www.vegparadise.com varieties? 2 Search for recipes with winter squash. List the various ways squash can be prepared. What’s in a Name? 3 Go to the grocery store and identify all of the Pronunciation: wĭn-tƏr· skwôsh different varieties of winter squash. Spanish name: calabaza Do a price cost comparison. What Family: Cucurbitaceae are the most and least expensive varieties? Genus: Cucurbita What are the top three Species: C. maxima Duchesneesne 4 squash-producing countries in the Squash are gourds belonging to the Cucurbita genus. world? Hypothesize why these Gourds, along with cucumbers and melons, are vine crops countries lead squash crop of the Cucurbitaceae family. The word “squash” is derived production. from the Native American askutasquash meaning “food eaten raw.” For information, visit: www.ers.usda.gov and www.nutritiondata.com and http://en.wikipedia.org There are two main squash varieties: winter and summer. Winter squash are not grown or harvested in winter, but picked when fully ripe and feature a hard shell Eat Your Colors (rind) with thick, inedible skin and hollow seed cavity with Fruits and vegetables come in a rainbow of colors — red, fully developed seeds. The thick shell allows it to be stored yellow/orange, white, green and blue/purple. These may for several months. (Summer squash are picked immature lower the risk of some cancers. Winter squash can be and have a soft shell.) yellow, tan (white color group) or green. The most common varieties of winter squash grown in the Color Health Benefi ts Examples of United States include: Group Fruits and Vegetables ■ Acorn, a smaller, acorn-shaped squash with dark green skin, deep furrows and yellow-orange flesh. Yellow Help maintain Yellow squash (delicata, and orange heart health, vision spaghetti, calabaza), ■ Butternut, a long, pear-shaped squash with tan skin health, and healthy sweet potatoes, yellow and orange, sweet flesh; the most popular variety. immune system fi gs, persimmons, ■ Buttercup or Turban, named for its “wrapped” layers, cantaloupes usually a dark green shell with orange, mealy flesh. White, tan Help maintain heart Tan squash (butternut, ■ Hubbard, a golden or green squash notable for its and brown health and healthy banana, Mediterranean), bumpy, thick skin. cholesterol levels garlic, jicama, kohlrabi, ■ Spaghetti, a yellow-skinned squash whose flesh forms ginger, dates, brown translucent spaghetti-like strands when cooked. pears, alfalfa sprouts, taro root For more information, visit: Green Help maintain Green squash (acorn, www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/wsquash1.html vision and strong kabocha/Japanese, bones and teeth buttercup), okra, green peppers, kiwis, avocados For more information, visit: www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov Recipe Corner How Does Winter Squash Grow? Butternut Squash Soup Winter squash are warm-weather plants requiring You can make this soup ahead of time and freeze for up pollination for fruit development. Until recently, squash to 2 months in a plastic freezer container. When ready to plants were grown exclusively on vines. Today, more use, defrost overnight in the refrigerator and then heat in a growers are using a hybridized, compact “bush” variety saucepan over medium heat. that allows for more plants per acre. Ingredients Vine and Bush Squash • 1 medium butternut squash • 4-6 cups chicken stock • 4 tablespoons water • salt and pepper Temperature 70-90 degrees F (sensitive to frost) • 2 tablespoons olive oil • sour cream Preferred soil Rich, sandy loam soil, well drained, heavy • 1 small onion, chopped • toasted walnuts fertilization (or added compost) • 1 medium carrot, chopped • chives, minced Exposure Full sun with steady water supply • 1 large sweet potato, peeled Planting Seeds on hills or raised beds (6 to 10 feet and diced apart, 4 to 6 seeds per hill) • 2 apples or pears, peeled and diced Flowers Multiple male blossoms on long stems; Directions few females, swollen at base of plant ■ Slice the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the Pollination Bees transfer pollen from male to female seeds with a large spoon. blossoms; USDA recommends one hive ■ Place the squash, cut side down, in a shallow bowl per acre (one that will fi t in your microwave). Harvesting Occurs at mature fruit stage, usually 80 ■ Add water, cover with plastic wrap and microwave for to 100 days after planting (typically in fall months) 8-9 minutes, rotating once, until squash is tender. ■ Remove from microwave and let cool until you can For more information, handle it. Then, carefully peel away the skin of the reference: squash and cut squash into chunks. www.kidsgardening.com ■ Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pot, Growing Vegetables and add the onion, carrot, potatoes, apples or pears, California Style, Marsha and squash. Prillwitz, 1988. ■ Cook 5-7 minutes or until lightly browned. ■ Pour in enough chicken stock to barely cover vegetables. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 40-50 minutes, until vegetables are tender. ■ Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Carnival Squash ■ Transfer the soup to a blender, and blend until smooth. ■ Return to pot, and stir in any remaining chicken stock until soup is a desired consistency. ■ Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and top with toasted walnuts and minced chives. Turban Squash A Taste of Squash History Gourds, cucumbers and melons are all part of the Cucurbit Family, but all have different origins. Squash and pumpkins are native to the Americas, while cucumbers originated in eastern Asia and melons in Africa or Persia. Squash are one of the oldest cultivated crops in the Western Hemisphere.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Hearty and Healthy Vegetarian Dishes in a Small Saucepan Over Medium Heat, Melt 4 Tbs
    Butternut Squash Risotto Risotto is made from a high-starch rice such as Arborio or Carnaroli. The small grains become exceptionally creamy as the dish slowly simmers. Here, butternut squash puree and caramelized October 14, 2012 onions lend a mellow sweetness to the risotto. Hearty and Healthy Vegetarian Dishes In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 Tbs. of the butter. Add 1 Tbs. of the sage and heat until the butter browns. Strain the butter into a small bowl and discard the sage. Cover the bowl 7 Tbs. unsalted butter to keep the butter warm. 2 Tbs. minced fresh sage In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together the stock and squash puree. Bring just The richly flavored vegetables of autumn star in a variety of meatless dishes. Hearty winter 6 cups vegetable stock to a simmer, 8 to 10 minutes; maintain over low heat. squashes, pumpkins and mushrooms easily replace meat in recipes and are healthy and 2 cups butternut squash puree In a large saucepan or risotto pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the caramelized 2 Tbs. olive oil delicious. Our savory meat-free entrées will soon become some of your family’s favorites. onions and rice and stir until the grains are well coated with the oil and are nearly translucent with 2/3 cup caramelized onions a white dot in the center, about 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 Tbs. sage and the rosemary. Add 2 cups Arborio rice the wine and stir until it is absorbed. All About Winter Squashes 1 tsp.
    [Show full text]
  • Mature Fruit Vegetables
    27 Mature Fruit Vegetables MIKAL E. SALTVEIT University of California, Davis, Davis, California, U.S.A. I. INTRODUCTION Many vegetables are classified botanically as fruit, that is, as the product of a ripening ovary and its associated tissue. Fruit vegetables are consumed when they are immature or mature. This distinction is useful because each division has similar postharvest behavior and storage requirements (Table 1). Examples of immature fruit vegetables include cucum bers {Cucumis sativus L.), summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), and sweetcorn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa Bonaf.), while examples of mature fruit vegetables are chili peppers {Capsi cum annum L. var. annum Longum Group), melons {Cucumis melo L.), pumpkins {Cucur bita pepo L. and C. maxima Duchesne ex Lam.), tomatoes {Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), watermelons [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nak.], and winter squash {Cu curbita maxima L.). These mature fruit vegetables are derived from a taxonomically di verse number of families, but the major mature fruit vegetables are dominated by species from the Cucurbitaceae (melons, pumpkins, and winter squash), and Solanaceae (peppers and tomatoes). (See Table 2.) Mature fruit vegetables can be berries (peppers, tomatoes) and pepos (cucurbits) (Rubatzky and Yamaguchi, 1997). Melons comprise a diverse group of fruits, with the two major groups being those that have a netted surface (Reticulatus group: cantaloupe, muskmelon) and those that are smooth (Inodorus group: honeydew, winter melons). Most fruit vegetables are warm-season crops that are subject to chilling injury (CI). (See Chap. 19.) Exceptions include sweetcorn and such cool-season crops as peas {Pisum sativum L.), broad beans {Viciafaba L.), and dried chili peppers.
    [Show full text]
  • University of Florida Thesis Or Dissertation Formatting
    GENETICS AND EVOLUTION OF MULTIPLE DOMESTICATED SQUASHES AND PUMPKINS (Cucurbita, Cucurbitaceae) By HEATHER ROSE KATES A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2017 © 2017 Heather Rose Kates To Patrick and Tomás ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am grateful to my advisors Douglas E. Soltis and Pamela S. Soltis for their encouragement, enthusiasm for discovery, and generosity. I thank the members of my committee, Nico Cellinese, Matias Kirst, and Brad Barbazuk, for their valuable feedback and support of my dissertation work. I thank my first mentor Michael J. Moore for his continued support and for introducing me to botany and to hard work. I am thankful to Matt Johnson, Norman Wickett, Elliot Gardner, Fernando Lopez, Guillermo Sanchez, Annette Fahrenkrog, Colin Khoury, and Daniel Barrerra for their collaborative efforts on the dissertation work presented here. I am also thankful to my lab mates and colleagues at the University of Florida, especially Mathew A. Gitzendanner for his patient helpfulness. Finally, I thank Rebecca L. Stubbs, Andrew A. Crowl, Gregory W. Stull, Richard Hodel, and Kelly Speer for everything. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. 4 LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ 9 LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • ROBINSON's SEEDS and PLANTS
    ROBINSON’S SEEDS and PLANTS Over 150years of Growing and Showing Vegetables SEASON 2021 www.mammothonion.co.uk Established 1860 and still family owned ‘Vegetables which taste as good as they look’. Visiting, watch for the sign Peardrop Tomato Mammoth Improved Onion Mammoth Blanch Leeks. Ringo Sweet Pepper Marconi Sweet Pepper Kingston Gold French Bean Mammoth Blanch Leek Stonehead F1cabbage Genovese Courgette Karella Crown Prince Squash Big Green F1 Tomato Hispi F1 Cabbage Solent Wight Garlic W. Robinson & Son (Seeds & Plants) Ltd Sunny Bank, Forton, Nr. Preston, Lancs, PR3 0BN Tel: +44 (0)1524 791210 Fax: +44 (0)1524 791933 www.mammothonion.co.uk e-mail: [email protected] find us on Facebook.com/mammothvegetables OUR HISTORY, Our founder, William Robinson, started the nursery in 1860. At that time the nursery grew a very different range of crops, ranging from soft fruit, apples, plums and pears, to onions, leeks and all the usual vegetables of the time. He also kept cows and horses to use on the smallholding. The nursery was as is now a spread of over 22acres. The next generation, also called William Robinson, started to improve the size of onions and leeks in particular. This was done as it is still done today by selection. Only the best specimens were allowed to seed. He started to exhibit the results in the local Flower Shows of the time, winning many prizes. Soon other exhibitors wanted to grow the strain and the vegetable business as we know it was born. He called all his large varieties of vegetable by the prefix Mammoth, as we still do today.
    [Show full text]
  • EC72-1227 Growing Squash and Pumpkin R
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Historical Materials from University of Nebraska- Extension Lincoln Extension 1972 EC72-1227 Growing Squash and Pumpkin R. E. Neild Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist Neild, R. E., "EC72-1227 Growing Squash and Pumpkin" (1972). Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. 4183. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/4183 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. +tbn s f:b El EC 72-1227 * lZ -rz:z_l • GROWING sQuash and pumpkin ,J for Food and Ornamentation J 1-\) Growing squash and pumpkin for food and ornamentation R. E. Neild Associate Professor, Horticulture Pumpkin and squash are American members of the plant family Cucurbitaceae. Cucu mbers, originally from India, cantaloupe from the Middle East and watermelon from Africa are other members of this important family of vine crops. Squash, like corn, was domesticated by Indians of Central America and spread to the 48 contiguous States of the United States before the arrival of Columbus. Squash was one of the first vegetables to be planted in Nebraska. USES Squash and pumpkin have many uses. The quick-growing, tender-skinned summer squash that are harvested and used when immature are delicious when steamed and buttered or sliced and baked with onions, bacon, tomato sauce and Italian seasoning. Long, dark green "Italian" summer squash varieties may be used raw like cucumbers in salads.
    [Show full text]
  • Winter Squash History Winter Squash Is Native to the United States and Was Introduced to European Settlers by American Indians
    Winter Squash History Winter squash is native to the United States and was introduced to European settlers by American Indians. Do not be fooled by the name! Winter squash is actually planted in the spring and harvested in late summer. Unlike summer squash, it is allowed to form a tough rind, which helps it withstand the winter months. This is where the name “winter squash” comes from. In mildly cool temperatures, the squash will store well for up to six months. Smaller squash should only be stored up to three months. Avoid refrigerating the squash as a whole because humidity will cause it to decay quicker. Brightly colored squash are a good source of vitamin C, A, and beta-carotenes, which are antioxidants that may reduce a person’s chances of cancer, heart disease, and degenerative aging. Vitamin A and beta-carotene are essential for maintaining eye health. Just like summer squash, winter squash grows on a vine or bush and flowers. In fact, the bloom is edible! Varieties Acorn squash is small, round, and ridged with sweet, fibrous flesh. Butternut squash is bell shaped with tan skin and a nutty flavor- great for pureeing or adding to soups. Delicata is oblong with yellow and green stripes and a sweet, creamy, caramel flavor. Hubbard squash is light green or deep orange and has thick skin. Spaghetti squash is yellow and after cooking, the inside can be scraped into long strands- these fibrous pieces look and taste like spaghetti noodles. Turban squash is round, brightly colored, and wearing a “hat” on top.
    [Show full text]
  • Dianne Onstad
    revised and expanded edition WHOLE FOODS COMPANION a guide for adventurous cooks, curious shoppers, and lovers of natural foods D IA NN E O NSTA D VEGETABLES SUMMER SQUASH VARIETIES be grown in America and Europe. Eaten in the summer when immature and thin-skinned, it is usually sliced Choose summer squashes that are tender and fresh into rounds and steamed or boiled and served with looking, with skin that is soft enough to puncture with a butter, salt, pepper, and herbs such as tarragon, dill, or fingernail. They perish easily, so store them in the refriger- marjoram. ator and use as soon as possible. Pattypan oror scallop squash looks rather like a thick, Chayote ((Sechium edule ) is a pear-shaped squash native round pincushion with scalloped edges. They are their to Mexico and Central America (its name is from the best when they do not exceed four inches in diameter Aztec Nahuatl chayotl ). Also known as mango squash, and are pale green rather than their mature white or pepinello, and vegetable pear, the chayote has soft, cream. Their flesh has a somewhat buttery taste, and pale skin that varies from creamy white to dark green. the skin, flesh, and seeds are all edible. Female fruit is smooth-skinned and lumpy, with slight Spaghetti squash ((Cucurbita pepo)) is a lla argarge, oblong ridges. It is fleshier and preferred over the male fruit, summer squash with smooth, lemon-yellow skin. Once which is covered with warty spines. Although they are cooked, the creamy golden flesh separates into miles of furrowed and slightly pitted by nature, they should not swirly, crisp-tender, spaghetti-like strands.
    [Show full text]
  • Winter Squash
    Health and Learning Success Go Hand-In-Hand School breakfast programs increase learning and academic achievement, improve student attention to academic tasks, reduce visits to the school nurse, and decrease behavioral problems. Help promote the school breakfast and meals program to your students. Use Harvest of the Month to encourage students to eat healthfully and be active. Exploring California Winter Squash: Taste Testing What You Will Need: n Three to five different winter squash varieties, whole and sliced* n One of each variety per every four students Network for a Healthy California n Nutrition labels for each variety** n Dry erase board, markers *See Botanical Facts on page 2 for varieties. **Download labels from www.harvestofthemonth.com. Activity: H AS U n Q Examine squash noting color (skin and flesh), texture, sound, and smell.* S T n U Chart observations on board. N R n E Analyze nutrition information. T T n U Chart three highest nutrient levels. B n Compare and contrast varieties. n Discuss differences in nutrient levels and how they may be related to characteristics like flesh color. *Note: Tasting raw winter squash is not recommended. For more ideas, reference: The Power of Choice, USDA, 2003, pp. 41-51. Cooking in Class: Reasons to Eat Pumpkin Delight Winter Squash Makes 36 tastes at 2 tablespoons each A ½ cup of cooked winter squash Ingredients: provides: n n 2 (15-ounce) cans 100% pure pumpkin An excellent source of vitamin A Nutrition Facts n (butternut, hubbard, and pumpkin). 2 tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice n Serving Size: ½ cup cooked acorn n A good source of vitamin C (acorn, squash, cubed (103g) 1 sleeve of lowfat graham crackers n butternut, hubbard, and pumpkin).
    [Show full text]
  • Winter Squash
    Healthy Serving Ideas • Bake, boil, roast, sauté, or microwave Nutrition Facts Serving Size: ½ cup cooked acorn winter squash. Use it in stews, soups, squash, cubed (103g) salads, dips, breads, and even pies. Calories 57 Calories from Fat 0 • Sample different varieties of winter % Daily Value squash to find out your family’s favorite. Total Fat 0g 0% (See Produce Tips for varieties.) Saturated Fat 0g 0% • Varieties with darker yellow/orange Trans Fat 0g flesh are more nutritious than lighter Cholesterol 0mg 0% colors. (Hint: Butternut is more Sodium 4mg 0% nutritious than spaghetti squash.) Total Carbohydrate 15g 5% Dietary Fiber 5g 18% SPICY APPLE-FILLED SQUASH Sugars 0g Protein 1g Makes 4 servings. 1 wedge per serving. Vitamin A 9% Calcium 5% Vitamin C 19% Iron 5% The Harvest of the Month featured Cook time: 70 minutes produce is winter Ingredients: How Much Do I Need? 1 large acorn squash (about 1 pound) • A ½ cup of cooked squash is about one squash 1 cup water cupped handful. 2 teaspoons butter • A ½ cup of winter squash, like butternut, 1 large apple, cored, peeled, chopped hubbard, and pumpkin, is an excellent 1 tablespoon brown sugar source of vitamin A. ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon • A ½ cup of winter squash, like acorn, ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves butternut, hubbard, and pumpkin, is a ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg good source of fiber and vitamin C. 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. • A ½ cup of acorn squash provides iron 2. Cut squash in half and scoop out and calcium. Health and Learning Success seeds. Place squash, cut side • Iron is a mineral that helps move down, in 13 x 9-inch dish.
    [Show full text]
  • Winter Squash Makes Fall Flavors Last O
    Winter Squash Makes Fall Flavors Last Stuff, steam, and purée this good keeper BY ODESSA PIPER n chilly Saturday mornings in October, Omy co-chef Eric Rupert and I go to the farmers’ market in Madison, Wisconsin, to pick up our restaurant’s entire winter supply of squash. We haul off pounds of all-purpose butternut, ungainly hubbard, delicata (my favorite for stuffing), and whatever other flavorful varieties the farmers have grown. As I walk around the market, I realize how well the foods of the region harmonize in cooking. Apple cider and maple syrup, strong flavors that might otherwise be too sweet for savory dishes, work well with the richness of winter squash. Crisp hickory nuts and chewy mushrooms perfectly complement the opulent texture of firm and smooth-fleshed squash. Even hardy herbs such as sage and rosemary don’t overpower squash’s sturdy flavor. Winter squash is a staple for our restaurant’s Don’t pass up winter seasonal cooking. To us, it’s a time capsule of every- squash when you see thing we love about harvest that we can take with it in your local market. us through the long winter. If you succumb, as I do, Its sweet, firm flesh to the beauty of squash on a crisp autumn day at can be turned into the farmers’ market, gather with abandon, for melt-in-your-mouth squash will remain faithful to you long after the last dumplings, hearty tomato or eggplant has gone. soups, or delicate cus- tards. A long keeper, WAIT FOR THE FLAVOR TO DEVELOP squash holds onto its Not all varieties of winter squash are ready to eat flavor into the winter.
    [Show full text]
  • Growing Squash in Home Gardens
    Vegetables: Growing Squash in Home Gardens WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION FACT SHEET • FS087E Choosing a Planting Site Crop at a Glance Squash grows best in fertile, well-drained soils with high Growing season: Summer levels of organic matter and full sun exposure. Since squash thrives in a soil pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.5, it Time of planting: Spring after date of last killing frost would be prudent to have your soil tested at the planting site prior to planting. Squash needs ample space, as the Spacing: 2 vines per hill and 4 to 5 feet between hills vines will wander three to five feet before setting fruit. Days to harvest: Summer squash—60 to 70 days; winter Squash has moderate to high water needs, particularly dur- squash—90 to 135 days ing the heat of summer, so plant close to a source of water in the home landscape. Average yield: Summer squash—10 to 15 fruit per vine; winter squash—4 to 8 fruit per vine Planting Guidelines Common starting method: Seed or transplant Squash can be started in the garden from seed. We recom- mend that you purchase certified seed from seed catalogs and garden centers, as seed saved from last year’s harvest is Introduction unlikely to produce the same type of squash as the parent plant. Beware: Squash is a frost-tender vegetable. Seeds may There are few vegetables easier to grow in the home garden not germinate in cold soil and seedlings can be killed off and more versatile in form/use/consumption than squash.
    [Show full text]
  • New Traditions
    New Traditions Roasted Golden Beet, Fennel and Citrus Salad 2 medium red or Chioggia beets, tops trimmed 2 medium golden beets, tops trimmed 2 blood oranges (if available) Good-quality extra-virgin olive, pumpkin seed, 1 grapefruit or walnut oil (for drizzling) 1 medium navel orange (preferably Cara Cara) Coarse sea salt, such as fleur de sel or 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Maldon sea salt 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice Freshly ground black pepper ½ small fennel bulb, very thinly sliced crosswise ¼ cup loosely packed fresh soft herbs of choice: on a mandolin cilantro, chervil, chives, basil ¼ red onion, very thinly sliced on a mandoline (about ⅓ cup) Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash beets, leaving some water on skins. Wrap individually in foil; place on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until beets are tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Let cool. Meanwhile, using a sharp knife, trim all peel and white pith from all citrus; discard. Working over a medium bowl, cut between membranes of 2 blood oranges to release segments into bowl; squeeze juice from membranes into bowl and discard membranes. Slice remaining citrus crosswise into thin rounds. Place sliced oranges in bowl with the segments. Add lemon juice and lime juice. Peel cooled beets. Slice 2 beets crosswise into thin rounds. Cut remaining 2 beets into wedges. Strain citrus juices; reserve. Layer beets and oranges on plates, dividing evenly. Arrange fennel and onion over beets. Spoon reserved citrus juices over, then drizzle salad generously with oil. Season to taste with coarse sea salt and pepper.
    [Show full text]