How to Cook an Acorn Squash a Recipe for College Students

This is another in the series of recipes that I'm posting for my daughters. Dining halls are closing on weekends more frequently leaving the kids to fend for themselves. The end result is that they get hungry and have to cook. They won't have any problems learning how to cook acorn squash for college students.

Even though my daughters are on their own and living it up in college they still call home regularly. One of our more frequent calls is for a recipe for this or that. I'm always happy to oblige. When one of my daughters needed a recipe for a special side dish acorn squash sprang to mind.

How to cook acorn squash for college students
Items needed
Medium baking dish
Kitchen knife '" medium blade
Kitchen knife '" large blade
Aluminum Foil
Spoon
Spatula

Acorn Squash
Butter
Brown sugar

How to cook acorn squash for college students
Choosing
When learning how to cook acorn squash for college students (or anyone else) you need to know what to look for. These are a little smaller than a cantaloupe and are usually deep green with patches of orange. They are shaped like an acorn with ridges that run from the stem to tip. Acorn squash should be firm to the touch and free of soft spots.

How to cook acorn squash for college students
Cutting
One of the things about how to cook acorn squash for college students is the need for a large heavy knife. You don't peel the squash you cut into two halves after washing and drying it. Cutting this is the hardest thing about cooking it.

Each half of the acorn makes one serving. The cut needs to be made from stem to tip instead of across the rows. Remove the stem. Insert your knife there and make a cut to break the squash in half. It may be helpful to start the cut with a smaller knife. Pull the small knife out and finish the cut with the larger knife.

Make sure that you hold the acorn squash firmly. Be very careful. Do not let the squash or the knife slip as you cut it in half! Inside, the squash will look very similar to a cantaloupe. There should be large seeds and string. This can all be scraped out with a spoon and discarded.

How to cook acorn squash for college students
Baking
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place the acorn squash face down in the baking dish
3.Add up to 1/4 inch water to pan. This will help keep the squash moist while cooking.
4. Cover the top of the pan with aluminum foil
5. Slide into the preheated oven for about 1 hour.

When done, the inside should be about the same softness as a baked potato. If it's not done in 60 minutes put it back in the oven. Check the squash in 15 minute intervals. Don't worry. Overcooking is next to impossible.

Remove from the oven when done. The skin may look very dark or black on the outside. Turn the squash over and check.As long as the inside is soft and mushy you're fine. Add butter and brown sugar to the hollow. Eat while warm.

This is how to cook acorn squash for college students or anyone else. It is an easy dish that works well with virtually any meat or as a side to a salad.

Source:
Personal Experience