Autumn Stuffed Acorn Squash

This dish is Fall AF.  It’s so flavorful and comforting.  Perfect for chilly nights.

INGREDIENTS

 2 small/med acorn squash
1 tsp olive oil
1 Tbsp organic coconut oil or ghee, plus more, if needed
1 pkg. Chicken Apple Sausage, sliced and cooked.
1 small onion diced
2 celery stalks diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 small apple diced (pink lady is my favorite for cooking)
1 Tbsp fresh sage leaves minced**
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary leaves minced**
1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves minced**
1/3 cup dried cranberries fruit-sweetened for Whole30
1/3 cup raw pecans chopped, toasted prior to adding, if desired
Salt & pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish

DIRECTIONS

• Roast the squash. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. 

• Cut each squash open, lengthwise, the scoop out the seeds/strings with a spoon, leaving a “bowl” in the center.

• Brush the top of each squash half with melted olive oil and sprinkle lightly with sea salt, then place face down on prepared baking sheet, and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until top of the squash feels soft when you press on it.

• Roasting time will vary depending on the size of your squash. You can remove, check for doneness (it should be soft enough to eat) and return the the oven for a few more minutes if necessary.

• While the squash roasts, prepare the stuffing. Heat a med/large skillet over med-hi heat and add a Tbsp olive oil. Add your sliced chicken apple sausage, and brown. Once browned, remove from heat and transfer to a plate, leaving fat in the skillet.

• Return skillet to medium heat and add the onions and celery, stirring while cooking to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute, stirring to avoid browning.

• Add the diced apples, fresh herbs and salt and pepper to taste, stir to combine. Cook for another 1-2 minutes to allow apples to soften.

• Then add the cranberries, pecans, plus browned sausage back to the skillet, lower heat to med/low and continue to cook another 2 minutes to blend flavors.

• Once ready to stuff the squash, preheat your broiler and arrange the 4 squash halves face-up on the baking sheet. Scoop the stuffing mixture into each one, adding as much as you want to each. You might have leftover stuffing depending on how large your squash are and how much you fill them.

• Once filled, place the baking sheet under the broiler and broil until tops of stuffing and squash are nicely browned, 5 minutes or so.  Garnish with fresh minced parsley.