Jonell Nash writes: This cookbook “took on a sense of celebration as a joyous tribute to our proud and brilliant African-American food tradition….Truly great cooking is not just about skills – it‘s also a matter of the heart. Offering oneself and one’s hospitality in a spirt of love and thankfulness can make the most humble meal a grand experience” By Jonell Nash
Essence Brings You Great Cooking by Jonell Nash (Amistad)
Serves 12
Ingredients
- 1 cup seedless raisins
- ½ cup rum, brandy, or apple cider
- 2 ½ cups vegetable stock, chicken stock, or water
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 large onion, minced
- 5 ribs celery, chopped
- 3 Gold Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 -inch cubes
- 1 pound herb-seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 6 acorn squash, halved crosswise, seeded
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup
- Optional garnishes: chopped parsley, rosemary, or thyme; dried cranberries
Directions
- In medium-size saucepan, combine raisins, rum, and stock/water; bring to boil.
Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes. - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter; add onion and celery. Saute until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
- Add apples; cook 3 additional minutes. Transfer to large mixing bowl; stir in bread crumbs until well mixed.
- Pour raisins and liquid over ingredients in bowl.
- Stir in walnuts, coriander, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and store in refrigerator until time to stuff and bake squash.
- Heat oven to 375°F. Trim bottom of each squash so it will sit level.
- Fill 2 large baking pans (13×11) with about ½ inch water; add squash halves, cut side down.
- Bake 20 minutes; remove from oven.
- Turn squash halves upright in dish. Brush insides lightly with maple syrup. Spoon dressing into hollows, mounding slightly in center. Drizzle any remaining syrup over tops of squash.
- Cover pans with foil; bake 25 minutes.
- Uncover and bake until squash are tender and dressing is crusty brown, about 20 additional minutes.
- Arrange on serving platter; garnish as desired
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Categories: Red-Orange-Yellow Vegetables