Melissa's Cooking!

So I wanted to try a couple recipes to maybe make to contribute a dish for Thanksgiving dinner, so I tried the Butternut Squash Apple Cranberry Bake. It turned out to be quite a yummy dish. Watch out on the amount of Cranberries you use, because they can be rather tart. So with each bite, limit the cranberries and you will get a very seasonal and delightful taste in your mouth! This is almost appetizer like, but can definitely be used as a side to your meal.

Ingredients include:
(Try to use organic!)

• 1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 large tart cooking apples cut into 1/2-inch thick slices (I used Granny Smiths)
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup (half a stick) butter
• 1 Tbsp flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice and peel squash and apples.

Put squash cubes in ungreased 7×11-inch baking dish. Place apples on top and then cranberries. Mix the flour, salt, sugar, and nutmeg and sprinkle on top. Dot with butter. Bake 50-60 minutes.

Plenty for everyone! It kept well in the refrigerator over night, so it can be eaten the next day too.

I have to say, I had a Butternut Squash Risotto the other night at a local restaurant and I was highly disappointed. It was overly cheesey (fake cheese-like even), and compared to the amount of melted cheese in it, there was hardly any rice. I told my husband that I can make it SO much better, so Sunday I tried and totally succeeded. It turned out SO good. I am thinking I will make this dish for our family Thanksgiving…

Ingredients include:
(Try to use organic!)
• 6-8 cups  reduced sodium vegetable broth
• 5 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided into 4 Tbsp and 1 Tbsp
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cups butternut squash, peeled, and finely diced
• 2 cups arborio rice (can substitute medium grained white rice, but arborio is preferred)
• 1 cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tbsp chopped chives or garlic chives
• Salt

Heat broth in medium sized saucepan and keep warm over low heat. Melt 4 Tbsp of butter in a large saucepan; add onion and butternut squash. Cook over medium heat until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add rice to onion and squash. Cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine. Cook, stirring constantly until wine has been absorbed by the rice or evaporated. Add a few ladles of broth, just enough to barely cover rice. Cook over medium heat until broth has been absorbed. Continue cooking and stirring rice, adding a little bit of broth at a time, cooking and stirring until it is absorbed, until the rice is tender, but still firm to the bite, about 15 to 20 minutes.

During the last minutes of cooking, add remaining tablespoon of butter, 1/3 cup Parmesan, and chives. At this point the rice should have a creamy consistency. Add salt to taste. Serve with remaining grated Parmesan.

This will definitely serve a family plenty, but if it’s the 2 of you, be prepared to eat for lunch and dinner the next 2 days!