5 things you gotta do for fall (like stuff an acorn squash).
October 6th, 2011
Oh boy, I hope you’ve got your decorative gourds and knee high socks ready. Fall is on. Here are the top 5 things you just gotta do:
1. Wear shorts with sweaters while you can. Or flip flops with jeans. Or boots with a skirt, no tights. There’s like, a 1 week window that you can mix summer and winter clothes for a real nice and casual, “Hey, look at me, I’m ok with whatever Mother Nature’s got” effect. Am I right?
2. Buy some red wine. It’s time to trade in frosty whites for a glass of the red stuff. I’ve got a bottle of Ravenswood Vintner’s Blend Red Zinfandel sitting on the counter. I know, zinfandel sounds like something you drank too much of in college, but that was white zinfandel and it came in a box and you drank it out of a pint glass. This is not that, I promise.
3. Go apple picking. Wellllll, maybe. If you can find an organic apple picking farm. Because apples are part of the Dirty Dozen, one of those foods you’re better off not eating if you can’t find organic. I know! Go leaf peeping instead!
4. Consider letting go. What can you shed? A few pounds, maybe. A bad attitude. Emotional baggage. Make like the trees and let the old stuff drop. Now might be a good time to detox your body. Just sayin’.
5. Pick up some winter squash. And make this.
Coconut Curry Beef Stuffed Squash
2 acorn squash
2 Tbl. olive oil
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 can coconut milk
3 Tbl. green curry paste, or to taste
S+P, to tastePreheat oven to 350F. Cut squash in half and remove seeds (keep ‘em to toast later!). Place squash halves skin side up in roasting pans and add 1/4″ of water. Bake for 1 hour or until skin is fork tender.
Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Add beef, cook until browned. Add cilantro. Dissolve curry paste in coconut milk and pour over beef. Stir and taste, adjust seasoning. Add S+P.
When squash is cooked, spoon beef into the center of each and serve over greens.
What else you do you gotta do this season? Let’s hear it!
