1. Take a minute to remember someone long ago who made the whole house, any house, smell like home. This was done with simple, real, fresh cooking. I see my Grandma Church basting the Thanksgiving turkey. But we will be stuffing squash.
2. Plan for a whole day of cooking. Plan the music or podcast or silence. Plan the coffee or tea. Plan for a solo day, when you can just slip into the joy of Nourishment Mind.
3. Dream up a mixture with brown rice or quinoa or small diced yellow gold potatos…and onions, garlic, maybe some not-too-hot peppers, diced garden tomatos, maybe corn for sweetness, mushrooms, black olives… and if you eat meat, elk or locally raised beef, turkey, chicken. Make a shopping list… but always have things from the garden.
4. Mix your beans. Black beans and chickpeas, pintos and navies…all complete plant protein. Your homegrown beans -pintos, negritos, northern, chickpeas – will be dry. Some need to be soaked. In a glass bowl, in water, with a dash of salt. Some folks add a little dark beer.
5. Cut any meat into bite sizes. For no meat/ plant protein, I use the quinoa or brown rice instead. Saute meat in olive oil with herbs or spices.
6. Cut the squash in half. Scoop out the centers. Prepare all the ingredients for the stuffing and slowly mix in a very large bowl. Add favorite spices; mine are chili spices or curries, especially tikka masala. The extra warmth in mid-winter is appreciated.
7. Place stuffing in a large casserole dish and heat on a low setting to help blend the flavors. Your sense of smell will tell you when it is right.
8. Do not cook the squash shells.
9. Stuff half squash with the mixture. Top with chopped vine ripened tomatoes and your favorite shredded real cheese…NO “AMERICAN” for gawds sake….😱. Try a sharp cheddar.
10. Let cool. Then tightly wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the freezer.
11. Always accept any food that is offered to you. Food is the highest offering of all. So when that neighbor lady shows up with those ginormous zucchinis this year, be thankful and plan your cooking meditation day.
12. With the first real snow of late fall or winter, take the stuffed squash out to defrost. Bake on 320 until the smell is perfect… not very long really. To drink, hot apple cider or a warm red wine, sourdough bread or a dark rye… heaven is not attained always by good works. Often it is right there in the kitchen. Prepare The Way….
The Refuge Permaculture Center 