In the Kitchen - Citrusy Mashed Squash with Toasted Pecans

I found this wonderful recipe and it made my butternut squash taste AMAZING!  Here are some tips you can use in your kitchen with this recipe and others and the actual recipe will be at the end.  Enjoy!

Squash - pick a large butternut squash in the store.  Look for rich color.  You can save the seeds from the squash for planting in your garden next spring by cleaning them, drying them on a paper towel for a few days and then storing them in a plastic baggy in the refrigerator.  You can also roast the rest of the squash seeds to eat later by coating them in a little olive oil and salt and placing them in a slow oven (remember temps over 175 will destroy the natural nutrition in the seed) for some time (mine took about 2 hours).

Butter - contrary to popular belief, butter is good for you! It contains natural fats.  Do not replace with oleo, margarine, or other butter substitutes.. these are chemicals and lead to inflammation in the body and reduced health!

Sour Cream - go ahead and use regular sour cream and dairy products that are NOT reduced fat.  These fats are healthy and wholesome and when the "reduce" the fat in dairy products, they substitute artificial substances to keep flavor and consistency.  It is these artificial man-made ingredients that really play havoc with your health.. not the natural products!

Maple syrup - don't buy the pancake syrup that you think of as maple syrup.  That contains High Fructose Corn Syrup which we know is not good for your health.  Almost every grocery store sells Pure Maple Syrup (should be the only ingredient listed on the bottle).  You can also use that for your pancakes and it is really natural, wholesome, and delicious.. just a little bit does a great job on pancakes!

Lemon peel - you can keep a lemon in your freezer for just such an event.  Put it out just long enough before zesting to be able to work with it and then re-freeze it for next time! 

Fresh sage - consider growing some of your favorite herbs in a window sill.  They are handy and organic when you need some for a recipe.  Here is my window sill in the kitchen.

And finally, here is that recipe I promised you!  Naturally sweet delicious and wholesome!

Citrusy Mashed Squash with Toasted Pecans

3 lbs butternut squash,  peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks

2 Tbsp butter

1/3 cup sour cream

¼ cup maple syrup

2 tsp finely shredded orange peel

2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

2 Tbsp snipped fresh sage (add last)

½ cup toasted pecans and chopped green onions for garnish (may also garnish with lemon or orange zest and fresh sage

Boil squash 16 – 17 minutes.

Melt butter and brown for 5 – 7 minutes

Food process butter, sour cream, maple syrup, orange peel, lemon peel, salt, pepper and as much of the squash as you can.

Return to bowl and add remaining squash and sage to finish mashing by hand.

Garnish and serve!

Enjoy!!  This is a great side dish to go with any meal!!