Sausage Stuffed Squash/ "Squasage" Casserole

The ingredients for these 2 recipes are identical.  It's really just a matter of preference in how you'd like to serve them.  Is it going to be a main dish, or a side?  Just for 4, or a group?  These are both "hurry it up" type meal.  You can revise it to just the ol' cook in the oven method if you'd like to, but I rarely allow myself enough time for that unless I'm really on top of the ball.

2 acorn or 2 butternut squash
1 lb Italian Sausage (store-bought or homemade)
1 carrot, chopped finely
1 stalk celery, chopped finely
1/2 red onion, chopped finely
2 T. Italian seasoning
Salt
Pepper
1 egg
1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped finely
Olive Oil

Sausage Stuffed Squash 

Cut, seed, and peal the butternut or acorn squash.
(Save the seeds for pepitas!) I used a butternut squash and sliced the top solid part and set those aside. Place the two squash "bowls" into a microwavable glass dish (such as pyrex) with a 1/2" of water.  Microwave for about 5 minutes, or until tender, but not too tender.

In a frying pan, mix the sausage, carrot, celery, onion, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.  Cook until sausage is done. Add 1 egg and scramble the mix (it should not be very egg-y).  Add the parsley and drizzle with a little more olive oil.  Scoop into squash bowls and broil in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until nice and hot and the meat is slightly browned.

With the slices of squash, you should microwave those on a microwavable, oven-safe plate or tray (I used my small stone). Make sure they are covered  Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, and broil along with the sausage bowl.

Serves 4 as a main dish this way.

"Squasage Casserole"

Prepare your butternut or acorn squash, by cutting in half, seeding, and peeling.  Cube the squash, place in a dish, and microwave, covered, for about 5 minutes, or until slightly tender.  (This can be shorter or longer depending on how much time you have.

Prepare the sausage the same way as above.  Mix with the squash cubes, place in a casserole dish, and bake until heated through, squash is completely tender, and ready to serve.

This way is great as a side!

Enjoy your Squasage! 


What other sweet or savory squash sides do you enjoy for the holidays?

10 uses for Leftover Sweet Potatoes + Pan Fried Sweet Potato Dollars

Leftover baked sweet potatoes are wonderful.  They are so versatile. Here are just a few ways that you can use leftover sweet potatoes. (I'm sure these ideas would work for regular baked potatoes as well.)

1)  Eat them as a baked sweet potato again This one seems kind of boring... so let's make the rest of them a little more fun.

2)  Twice baked sweet potatoes  (check out this yummy recipe!)

3)  Make crispy baked potato bites  Simply cut them into bite-sized pieces, smash them down, drizzle with olive oil and either sweet or savory spice/herb blends and make something similar to these wonderful bites.

4)  Mashed Sweet potatoes Scoop the potato out of the peel and add a sweet or savory twist.

5)  Use them as a topping for Shepherd's Pie  A good fix for some much wanted and needed comfort food on a brisk day

6)  Omlet filler Chop it up and throw it inside an omelet along with any other leftover veggies you have.

7)  Sweet potato empanadas (Paleo Empanada Pastry Recipe, Filling Recipe which is easily adaptable for Paleo)

8)  Add to an already cooked up beef stew or soup  Adds another flavor to the soup.  Leave them as chunks, or mash 'em up to use as a soup thickener.

9)  Sweet potato pancakes like these!

10)  Pan Fried Sweet Potato Dollars:

Ingredients
cooked sweet potatoes
olive oil or coconut oil
salt/pepper  or cinnamon and nutmeg
cayenne pepper (optional)

Cut the leftover baked sweet potatoes into 1/8" to 1/4" slices.  Take off peel if you wish, but it's not necessary.

Heat a pan with oil (just coating the bottom evenly) to med. to med-high heat.  Place potatoes in a single layer in the pan.  Sprinkle with either salt and pepper or cinnamon and nutmeg (just SPRINKLE) depending on whether you would like more of a savory sweet potato or sweet sweet potato in the end.  Add a TINY dash or cayenne pepper over the potatoes if you would like a little kick.  YES! Even with the sweet ones.

Once the potatoes are golden brown on the bottom, flip each one and let it cook to perfection.

YUM!  This makes a great side to go along with your eggs in the morning.  It also would be great paired with pork medallions or a chicken dish!  I suppose you could eat these alongside pretty much any meat and veggie!  SO TASTY!