Instead of letting your neighborhood squirrel go to town on your fall decor maybe this year you can try adding your weird-looking fall decoration to your dinner menu. There are so many pumpkins and winter squash that go to waste after Halloween and Thanksgiving. That is because many of us don’t know how to eat them or turn them into something delicious. That is why I am creating this blog post so I can give you some yummy ways to cook up all your pumpkins and winter squash.
Every fall more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins and winter squash get thrown away. Not only is that perfectly good food that is being wasted. But also consider all of the water and resources it took to grow those pumpkins and squash that are also being wasted. Year after year we are letting so much go to waste and ruin. There are ways we can still decorate and have festive fall fun without all of these wasteful traditions.
It is time to re-think the old tradition of letting perfectly good food rot on your doorstep. All of the freaky-looking pumpkins and gourds can be used in a number of recipes that are quite delicious. Or if you carve your pumpkins you can always compost what is left over. Winter squash holds a lot of nutrients and water that would be greatly beneficial if we put back the waste into the soil of parks, farms, or even our own garden beds. Or offer your unwanted pumpkins and squash to the wildlife or local farms with animals.
Another way that leftover winter squash and pumpkins can offer a great benefit if we start to save them from the landfill is by feeding those in need. Instead of letting billions of tons of healthy food go to waste, we could divert the un-eaten fruit to people who are struggling to eat. It really doesn’t seem right to waste perfectly good food when millions of people are going hungry every day.
There are so many different varieties of winter squash and they are all extremely versatile when it comes to cooking. If you are feeling up for something different check out these 11 different recipes with 11 different squash so you can experiment and find your new favorite winter squash. They can be used in so many different ways. Such as savory stews, cozy soups or sweet pies, and spiced cakes. There are endless possibilities.
1. Red Kuri Winter Squash
Also known as baby red Hubbard. Extra soft creamy orange flesh that is extra sweet.
Recipes to try:
Simple Roasted Red Kuri (try adding to your favorite ramen recipe)
2. Blue Hubbard Squash
Gorgeous blue gray skin with sweet yellow flesh. Beautiful autumn decor that can instantly turn into a delicious meal once the holidays are over.
Recipes to try:
3. Buttercup Squash
The sweet buttery buttercup is a New England favorite.
Recipes to try:
4. Delicata Squash
Delicata forms the perfect boat for stuffing. You can taste hints of butter and brown sugar in this one. Me and my boyfriend loved this simple curry recipe.
Recipes to try:
Green Curry Porridge with Delicata Squash
5. Honey Nut Squash
One of my favorites. Honey nut squash are cute miniature butternut squash with a darker honey yellow skin and a more concentrated flavor.
Recipes to try:
Baked Honey Nut Squash Breakfast Bowls
6. Dumpling Squash
Deep orange fine grained flesh with a high sugar content. Can be stored for up to 6 months. Disease resistant when growing in the garden.
Recipes to try:
7. Acorn Squash
Perfectly rounded fruit that is great for stuffing. A great alternative for a vegetarian or vegan dinner for the holidays.
Recipes to try:
8. Spaghetti Squash
An easy winter squash to love that is easy to cook and turn into a meal. Roast in the oven and the flesh will separate from the skin and turn into squash spaghetti. A healthy alternative that you can substitute spaghetti with.
Recipes to try:
Spicy Tomato Parmesan Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
9. Banana Squash
Typically one of the biggest winter squash you will ever see. It has smooth pinkish-orange skin. All you need is one and you will be set for winter. This winter squash has a rich, extra sweet and subtly earthy flavor great for many different recipes.
Recipes to try:
Banana Squash Soup with Sweet Potato and Apple
10. Butternut Squash
One of the most used winter squash. Butternut squash comes in many varieties and typically has rich, savory flavor with just the right amount of sweetness.
Recipes to try:
Butternut squash soup with ginger and lemongrass
11. Pie Pumpkins
The typical carving pumpkin lacks in flavor but can still be eaten. For a more delicious pumpkin make sure to buy the smaller sugar pie pumpkins. Nothing beats fresh roasted pumpkin for all your holiday baking.
Recipes to try:
Find more of my favorite autumn recipes here.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.