1 Acorn Squash 8 Ounces Mushrooms, any 1/2 Green Pepper, small 1 Shallot 2 Tbs. Olive Oil 2 Cups Kasha Cooked 2 Tbs. Chopped Parsley 1/3 Cup Chopped Walnuts 1/4 tsp. Salt 1/4 tsp. Pepper
Heat Oven To 400°
Cut squash in half.
This is not very easy to do.
Take a big knife and cut into the squash.
Take a heavy cleaver or knife, and with the dull side hit the knife on the dull side to push the knife through the squash.
Be careful and look only at your fingers as you cut.
Remove the seeds from the squash.
Place the squash face-side down on a sheet pan.
Add 2 cups of water to the pan.
Place pan in oven for 30 minutes.
Check the squash by gently squeezing the sides .
If the squash still feels hard, turn off the oven and leave the squash finish cooking for another 5-15 minutes, depending on the size of the squash.
Remove the cooked squash from the oven.
Stick a fork into the squash and make sure it is cooked.
The flesh should be fork tender but not over-cooked.
While squash is baking, prepare the kasha stuffing.
Wipe any dirt from the mushrooms and slice thin.
Cut the pepper into a small dice.
Mince the shallot.
Chop parsley and nuts.
Heat oil in a pan over high heat.
Oil should be hot but not smoking hot.
Smoking hot oil may not be good for you and the flavor will make your food taste burnt.
Add mushrooms, shallot and pepper.
Cook and stir ingredients over high heat for a few minutes.
Mushrooms will become soft and turn golden brown.
Same with the shallots and pepper.
Add all of the ingredients to the pan.
Mix together and cook for another minute or so.
Kasha should be hot.
Place one cup of kasha stuffing into the middle of the cooked squash and serve.
New Taste Thinking:
This is the sort of recipe that can be enjoyed as a side dish or main course, depending on you eating habits and hunger. I like to make it midweek, especially if I had made a batch of kasha on the weekend that has been used for breakfast. I like the idea of turning off the oven during baking and letting food finish cooking as the oven cools. This can also be done on the way up and it does help to save some energy in a small way.
