Squash! We love squash, it’s so delicious and very nutritious. Packed with carotenoids, antioxidants and dietary fibre, rich in vitamins and minerals and low in fat and starch, squash is very healthy. It is easy to cook and can be used to make meals all the way from breakfast through dessert. Muffins, gnocchi, soups, stews, roasted, pies, and even hummus-like dips can all be made with squash. Next month we’ll feature some squash recipes that we really like at the farm.
This year we grew a lot of different varieties: orange and blue Hubbard, Candy Roasters, Long Island Cheese, Buttercup, Pie Pumpkin, Acorn, Table Queen, Delicata, Musquee d’Hiver, Galeux d’Eysines, Spaghetti. Some varieties are still curing so we aren’t certain what they are.
A little information on some of the different squash:
- Delicata are a small squash with a light, delicate floral flavour and a skin so thin you can eat it.
- Buttercup have a rich orange colour and smooth sweet flavour and are wonderful in soup.
- Musquee d’Hiver de Provence is a new variety for us, and has a rich, sweet flavour with a smooth texture.
- Galeux d’Eysines is another new variety and it is a rare French heirloom type with a sweet and velvety flavour.
- Candy roaster is very sweet and has a long shelf life.
- Long Island Cheese is a firm, fine grained, earthy and sweet squash native to the U.S. Northeast.
How to store
Store squash in an area that is cool, dark and dry with good air circulation. Some squash store well for extended periods of time (e.g. 3-6 months) such as candy roasters, Hubbards, Butter Cup and pumpkins. Acorn style squash store for shorter periods, 1-2 months. Generally, hard-shelled squash store for longer periods.
