Grocery Challenge - February 2012

catznine

Ninno820 wrote: »

Just to clarify - you don't peel the orange?

No you don't peel it, just give it a wash, quarter it and check for pips, then process into little bits and add the rest of the ingredients! I was a little unsure but it really does make a lovely orangy cake, family love it! In fact I have to make another one soon as it has nearly gone!

valerie57

Spiggle wrote: »

Hi lovely ladies,

Advice please! A friend kindly gave us a butternut squash last night. We don't know what to do with it but I thought roasted would be good to go with our cottage pie later. Any advice please on how best to roast it? Alternatively, any other suggestions for using it other than soup please?

Thanks,
Spigs

Hi Spigs. We love roasted butternut squash and have it regularly instead of potatoes with "dinners". I peel it and remove the seeds. It is tricky to peel but easier if you cut it up into smaller pieces first. I then chop it up for cooking. I don't think there are any rules it depends on the size of piece you like. Smaller chunks tend to have more flavour IMHO as there is more caramelisation taking place. After chopping I toss the pieces in oil and put on a pre-heated baking tray at whatever temperature the oven is already on at. Somewhere between 170 and 200C works fine and hotter is slightly better. It takes, depending on size and oven temperature, around 40 mins. As you can see I am not a scientific cook but this works for me every time.

Spiggle

Thanks valerie, that's brilliant!

Take care,
Spigs

MunniMuncha

Never ever cooked butternut squash or even bought one, but having seen how it is to prepare and cook have now put that on my next shopping list:D

Suffolk_lass

Spiggle wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the butternut squash suggestions. I was thinking more of how you roast it i.e. does it need parboiling, how long would you roast it for, etc?

Spigs,

I've tried roasting butternut squash in its skin and peeled, in small pieces and cut in half. Our current favourite is to peel core and cut into cubes, then stick it in a plastic bag with a sprinkle of herbs, oil, s&p and shake it about. I pour it on to a baking tray - I've taken to cooking it at the same time as other roasting things, just pour the raw coated squash in and as others say, cook for 45 mins (ish) 'tho best when it has started to get caramelised at the edges IMHO.

I also do it as an accompaniment dish with hm curry - again peeled and cubed (1-1.5cm) cook it in an open oven-proof frying pan with a small onion sliced into long strips, in a little oil (to stop it sticking) and then a tablespoon of gujarat masala curry paste (Veerswamy make one that smells and tastes lovely - Waitflower sell it) and a good dash of water to mix it up well - then I put it in a moderate oven (no lid) while I cook the rice. It should be dry-ish but not stuck, lovely and caramel-y and my experience is that a little water added if it has dried too much makes it delish (victory from the jaws...)

MunniMuncha

Thanks Catznine, will definitely be giving this cake a go - looks very yummy!!

mi_jardin

I have to report a spend, £9.40 which takes me very close to my limit!:eek:
I bought eggs and lemons too ready for Pancakes!:D

166million

I roasted a butternut squash whole once, it was immense. Bit messy if you want to cut it up afterwards though!

quintwins

oh dear i've managed to lose count and to stop using/misplace my spending dairy, i will try add it all up when i find it, but i'm writing feb off as me and hubby decided to start slimming world so we're now WAY over.

starting slimming world tomorrow, i will be setting a higher budget in futher to account for all the extra fruit and meat aswell

rising_from_the_ashes

cleggie wrote: »

over on my DFD, caroline and a few others suggested pancakes for breakfast.

mi_jardin wrote: »

I bought eggs and lemons too ready for Pancakes!:D

Pancake day on Tuesday (I love pancakes:o).

I did treat myself to some blueberries at Mr T today ..... when DM and I were out yesterday, there was a crepe place at Dob*bie's - I was very tempted by a blueberry & ice cream crepe but it was £5.95:eek: so I managed to resist - with the promise I'd make myself some on pancake day:D

I have no idea what I'll do with the rest of them:eek: - does anyone know if they freeze? (Then I could have it again .... and again)