Sweet Squash Dish

Don't run!!!

I know most people cringe at the thought of squash, but it can be really good! (Sadly, I can't guarantee you'll like this recipe... but I like it!) If you like fall harvests and pumpkin, this may be up your ally!

Technically, butternut squash is a winter squash. But I had one sitting around (I guess they went on sale near the end of winter) and that hardy little sucker was still good! But, more than just a long-lasting product, squash of all sorts have many health benefits!

Squash is an amazing source of vitamin A - over 100% of your needs in a cup! It is also a very good source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and manganese. Plus is contains some folate, omega-3 fatty acids, thiamin, copper, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, niacin and copper! Power packed! So, as always - that wonderful vitamin A + Vitamin C combo is great for healthy, supple skin!

In addition to its long list of health-promoting nutrients, squash - like basically all produce - is also a disease fighting fiend! It has good antioxidant power, helps with inflammation, may help with a healthy prostate, helps prevent lung cancer, decreases risk of colon cancer, and may help prevent the progression of atherosclerosis!

Most people think of squash as a food that needs to be cooked - but it can be enjoyed raw, too! I was quite skeptical at first, but have found this little dish to be quite good!

Sweet Squash Dish

(Experiment with what ratio you like of squash to dried fruit to walnuts!)

-1 butternut squash

-1 cup dried cranberries

-1/2 cup walnut pieces

-agave or maple syrup to taste

-spices to taste (I like pumpkin pie spices, with extra cinnamon!)

-dash of sea salt

1. Peel the squash (yup - just like a potato! Grab that peeler, and go to town!) and cut off ends. Cube into roughly 1" chunks.

2. Put squash in food processor and process into rice-sized pieces (You may want to do 2 batches if this is hard on your processor)

3. Dump squash bits into a bowl. Add cranberries, walnuts, syrup, and spices. Mix well!

Simple, quick, easy, and healthy! You can warm the mix if you prefer. Sometimes in the fall, I like it warmed just a bit - maybe 90-100 degrees! But with the warmer weather we've been having, I enjoy a cool spiced bowl of this instead!

Happy Squashing!

~Katie