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Meatless Monday:Roasted Squash with Mushrooms

18 Nov

I am back posting after being a little away from my blog for about a month while I was going through some health and personal issues far away in Brazil.

I am happy to share that I am slowly recovering from my rib separation thanks to homeopathy, healing clay bandages followed by rock salt bandages, and a healthy anti-inflammatory diet. I tried the Allopathic Medicine route and it wasn’t working for me. I will be posting some more on this topic.

And my grandma, my dear Piccola Nona, is doing much better, out of the hospital, and excited about the release of her book. She is so awesome! Eighty six years old, two music cds recorded, and now a book. And all the profit for the sales of them go to the Children’s Cancer Hospital. I want to be just like her when I grow up…what an inspiration!

Now, to celebrate my return I decided to share a recipe for Meatless Monday that I love. Enjoy.

Roasted Squash with Mushrooms+Herbs+Gruyere

Roasted Squash with Mushrooms+Herbs+Gruyere

Ingredients:

1 Medium acorn squash or any squash of your preference
1 stick (1/2 cup of butter)
1 tablespoon finely chopped thyme
1 tablespoon finely chopped sage
1 small red onion, or 2 shallots, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons dry white wine
1 teaspoon shoyu (soy sauce)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 cups porcini mushrooms(or any other mushroom you like)
1/2 cup gruyere cheese
1 tablespoon bread crumbs

Method:

1. Cut the squash open in half, and remove the seeds with a spoon. Sprinkle some sea salt, black pepper and half of the butter. Wrap top of the squash in foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375F for about 45 minutes to an hour (until soft and cooked , it will depend on the size of your squash- check the inside). Let it rest
2. While the squash is in the oven, chop the mushrooms, onions, garlic and herbs.
3. In a medium frying pan melt the remaining butter, and add the onions and herbs. When the onions look translucent add the minced garlic. Sautee the garlic for about two minutes and add the white wine. Cook until the wine evaporates, and add the mushroom. Cook the mushrooms for about three minutes, and when they are cooked, add soy sauce.
4. Take it off the heat. Mix with gruyere cheese and breadcrumbs.
5. Check if squash is cooked and fill it with the mushroom mix. Take it back to the oven for about 15 minutes until the cheese melts.
6. Serve and enjoy.
* You can also add cooked wild rice to the mushroom mix.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitary

28 Sep

Pinheiro do Parana – Araucaria – Curi

“Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong.”

Winston Churchill

This solitary tree lives in my parent’s ranch. It produces Pinhão, and when it is in season is always my favorite time of the year. Growing up, I eagerly waited for the trees to start dropping its beautify cones full of pine nuts. They are green and large, resemble the durian fruit, and the seeds on their interior look just like the ones from a regular pine cone. But they are larger, and can be cooked in water or grilled.

Pinhão looks like its cousin Pine Nuts, but it is softer, and its taste is much more subtle. It is used in both sweet and savory dishes, and has high nutritional value.

Because they are considered an endangered species, the trees have been protected by federal legislation since as early as 1797. In fact, it is illegal to sell its seeds outside of the legally permitted season, and since 2001 is also illegal to cut this tree down.

Pinheiro do Parana, Araucaria, or in the Tupi Indians language who inhabited this area – Curi – is a tree from the pine family. It has been around for over 200 million years, and usually lives for 200 to 300, but could live up to 500 years.

This species is only found in the south of Brazil, more specifically in the state of Parana. Curitiba, which is my hometown and the capital of the state means in Tupi abundance of pine trees. Curi (originally Ku’ri ) means pine tree , and tüba, which later became Tiba means abundance, a lot of.