3 1/2 pounds butternut squash
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 2 ounces)
Preheat oven to 400°F.
With a sharp knife cut squash crosswise into 2-inch-thick slices. Working with 1 slice at a time, cut side down, cut away peel and seeds and cut squash into 1-inch cubes (about 9 cups).
In a large bowl stir together squash, bell pepper, oil, garlic, herbs, black pepper, and salt to taste. Transfer mixture to a 2- to 2 1/2-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish and sprinkle evenly with Parmesan.
Bake casserole in middle of oven until squash is tender and top is golden, about 1 hour.
Serves 6 as a side dish.
****************************
2 1/2 lb Butternut squash - (up to 5 lb)
1 Carrot (2 if you use more squash)
1 c Rolled oats (uncooked oatmeal)
12 oz Green peas
1 T Butter
2 Eggs, beaten frothy
1 pn Salt
5 T Cinnamon sugar (or less)
1/2 t Vanilla
Boil squash and carrot together until the carrot is tender. Allow both to cool. Slide skin off carrot. Being careful with squash, remove its seeds and peel. Blend carrots and squash together. Don't over-blend: preserve some texture. Add cinnamon sugar and salt to taste.
Add frothy eggs to carrot/squash mixture. Grease an 8-inch loaf pan. Coat the grease with oatmeal. Mix about 1/2 cup oatmeal into casserole. Gently fold in green peas, then put mixture in casserole pan. Sprinkle remaining oatmeal on top and dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees F. 30 to 40 minutes until brown on top. Once cooked, it can be served immediately or frozen for later consumption.
NOTES: * Cinnamon sugar is a mixture of sugar and powdered cinnamon. Commercial cinnamon sugar mixtures are mostly sugar. Make your own using mostly cinnamon. Cinnamon and sugar are mixed not only for the addition of sweetness but to give the cinnamon something to bind with to make it easier to distribute from a shaker. It is hard not to overdo finely powdered cinnamon when using a shaker.
