Roasted Acorn Squash

This time of year I will often roast acorn squash with a rub of Earth Balance and brown sugar. My family loves squash prepared this way but it's very sweet. This is a slightly different take on that recipe. It's still sweet, but not overwhelming so, and it's so simple it becomes an easy addition to any meal.

Roasted Acorn Squash 
Cook Time: 1 hour 

2 acorn squash
1/8 C maple syrup
2T balsamic vinegar
1 T honey
1/4 t sea salt
freshly grated nutmeg
8 sage leaves

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the squash in half from top to bottom. Scrape out the seeds with a spoon and place the squash on a baking sheet with the cut sides up. In a bowl mix the maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, honey and sea salt. Brush the cut sides of each squash with the mixture and grate nutmeg over the squash. Lay two sage leaves on top of each squash and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, pull the squash out and baste. Put it back in the oven for another 20 minutes. Repeat the basting one last time using up the liquid mixture and finish roasting for another 20 minutes or until tender.

Note: Once again, the photo isn't mine.

Maryann's Easy Crockpot Applesauce

My dear friend Maryann recently made some applesauce and delivered it to me (great friend, right?).  Well, it was so yummy, I had to ask for the recipe. Low and behold, I found out she used a crockpot... and I really liked the sound of that! You just put everything into the pot and forget about it. She says her entire house smells amazing when she makes this.

I used it as a side dish and a dessert.... (and as a late night treat... shhhh).

Maryann's Easy Crockpot Applesauce

4 pounds of tart apples (she used Jonagold), pared, cored and thinly sliced (approx. 12 C)

¼  C sugar

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t.allspice (optional)

1 C. water

1 T fresh lemon juice

Put the apples into a crock pot. Mix in the rest of the ingredients and start the cooking process. Set the crockpot at (either) Low for 5 -7 hours, or High for 2 ½  – 3 ½. Once the cooking is done, smash the apples with a potato masher and serve.