Hungry Girl (75 page)
Authors: Lisa Lillien
MAKES 1 SERVING
There are competitions every year to see who can grow the largest pumpkin. Prize-winning pumpkins have weighed in at more than 1,000 pounds. Whoa! |
fun with butternut squash |
Butternut squash is the most underrated food EVER. Not only is it amazingly delicious but it's also healthy, soooo low in calories, extremely versatile, and fun to cook. Granted, it is a little annoying to peel, cut, and deseed the things, but it's definitely worth the trouble. These recipes are so good, you may forget that sweet potatoes exist (b-nut squash tastes so similar, but has about half the calories!). And speaking of potatoes, don't miss HG's famous Bake-tastic Butternut Squash Fries on page 100. Happy squashing! |
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PER SERVING (½ of recipe): 109 calories, 1g fat, 341mg sodium, 27g carbs, 4g fiber, 5g sugars, 2g protein |
Ingredients3 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
2 tablespoons sugar-free maple syrup
1 teaspoon whipped light butter or light buttery spread
¼ teaspoon salt
DirectionsPlace squash and ¼ cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl and cover. Microwave for 5 to 7 minutes, until soft.
Drain water from the bowl. Add syrup, butter, and salt. Mash and stir. Enjoy!
MAKES 2 SERVINGS
PER SERVING (¼th of pie): 232 calories, 2.5g fat, 552mg sodium, 25g carbs, 4g fiber, 5g sugars, 28g protein |
This shepherd's pie swap is AMAZING. My obsession with butternut squash really paid off here
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in spades!
Ingredients1 pound raw extra-lean ground turkey
3½ cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
1½ cups frozen mixed vegetables
½ cup chopped onions
¾ cup fat-free gravy
1 tablespoon light whipped butter or light buttery spread
½ teaspoon minced garlic
¼ teaspoon salt
Dash of black pepper
Dash of garlic powder
Dash of onion powder
DirectionsPreheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place the squash in a large microwave-safe dish with ½ cup of water. Cover bowl and cook squash in the microwave for 12 to 14 minutes, until squash is soft.
Meanwhile, in a medium pan over medium heat, cook onions until slightly browned (2 to 3 minutes).
Add the turkey, minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper to the pan. Stir well. Cook until meat is browned.
Drain any excess liquid from the pan. Place meat/onion mixture in a casserole dish. Pour gravy evenly over the mixture. Spread the mixed veggies on top and then set dish aside.
Once squash is cooked, drain excess water and mash well. Add butter and salt to the squash and then mix thoroughly. Layer the mashed squash on top of the veggie layer. Bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes (until crust looks slightly crispy).
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
For a pic of this recipe, see the photo insert. Yay!
Butternut Squash Basics—Peeling & Cubing 101
Simple secrets for perfectly peeled 'n squared squash . . . |
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Seek out a long squash with a short round section. The round part is tough to cube—it's mostly hollow, with seeds and fibers that need to be scraped and removed from the flesh. But the long part is all flesh, perfect for cubing.