Microwave Winter Squash Recipe

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Everyone knows that winter squash should be baked.

This is true, but what if you want something home-made and fresh for lunch?  With a little preparation at time and a microwave at school or work, you're set!  You'll also have the rest of the building or lunchroom drooling!

You'll have to tailor this recipe to suit your tastes, as always, but I have the basics to begin upon here.

Microwave Winter Squash Lunch
Makes enough for 1 person.
Time: 15 minutes preparation, 8 minutes cooking.

Ingredients:

One small winter squash, softball size or appropriate to your appetite.

Filling:
Whatever strikes your fancy.  My favorite choices are below
1. Cranberry
       2 tbsp dried cranberries
       1 tbsp honey
       1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
       cloves
2. Sausage Rice (sweet with brown sugar or savory with seasonings)
       1/4 cup of your favorite breakfast sausage, cooked.
       1/2 cup cooked rice
       seasonings (salt, pepper, sage) (optional)
       brown sugar (optional)

Instructions:
@ Home
1. Gather your filling ingredients.  You can mix them all together in a sandwich bag (cranberry) or microwave-safe container (sausage) and store it in the refrigerator.
2. give your squash's skin a scrub.  (Generally a good policy no matter who you got it from!)
@ Work
3.  With a knife, stab the squash so that steam can escape.
4.  Microwave the whole squash for about 4 minutes, turn it over, microwave for 4 more minutes.
5.  CAUTION!  HOT!  Let the squash rest for a few minutes until you can cut it open without burning your hands on the steam.
6. with a spoon, scoop out the seeds and toss (or compost!) them.
7.  if you chose the sausage filling (or something similar), reheat it while your squash is cooling.
8.  Mix and Enjoy!  if you have extra room in your container for the sausage filling, scrape the squash from it's skin into your container.  If you just had your squash and your sandwich baggie of yummies, you'll have to scrape the squash filling loose and mix with your filling in the skin.

YUM!

Please share in the comments your favorite filling for squash, baked or microwave!

Ethiopian Cabbage Dish

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http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Ethiopian-Cabbage-Dish/Detail.aspx?evt19=1

Prep Time: 25 Minutes            Cook Time: 40 Minutes          Ready In: 1 Hour 5 Minutes

Servings: 5

Ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil

4 carrots, thinly sliced

1 onion, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/2 head cabbage, shredded

5 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

Directions:

1.                  Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

2.                  Cook the carrots and onion in the hot oil about 5 minutes.

3.                  Stir in the salt, pepper, cumin, turmeric, and cabbage and cook another 15 to 20 minutes.

4.                  Add the potatoes; cover. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until potatoes are soft, 20 to 30 minutes.

Roasted Swiss Chard with Feta

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Roasted Swiss Chard with Feta
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roasted-Swiss-Chard-with-Feta/Detail.aspx

Prep Time: 10 Minutes            Ready In: 45 Minutes             Cook Time: 35 Minutes          Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 bunch rainbow chard - leaves and stems separated and chopped

1 large onion, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

salt and black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 ounces feta cheese, broken into ½ inch pieces

Deep-Fried Bok Choi Recipe

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Deep-Fried Bok Choi Recipe
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/dimsumrecipes/r/chineseseaweed.htm

Serves 4 to 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 pound bok choy
1/4 cup toasted almonds
2 cups oil for deep-frying, or as needed
1 teaspoon granulated sugar

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Kale With Roasted Peppers and Olives

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/kale-roasted-peppers-olives-10000000524082/index.html

Serves 8           Hands-On Time: 15m             Total Time: 25m

Ingredients

2  large bunches kale

2  tablespoons  olive oil

2  cloves garlic, thinly sliced

2  teaspoons  sugar

1  teaspoon  salt

12  Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped

1  4-ounce jar roasted red peppers

2  tablespoons  aged balsamic vinegar

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Kale-Apple Smoothie

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/kale-apple-smoothie-00000000050666/index.html

Serves 1           Hands-On Time: 05m             Total Time: 05m

Ingredients

3/4  cup  chopped kale, ribs and thick stems removed

1  small stalk celery, chopped

1/2  banana

1/2  cup  apple juice

1/2  cup  ice

1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice