Acorn Squash Stuffed with Spinach & Sausage

Winter vegetables are the best! This was meant to be an easy, don't have to think-to-hard kind of dinner! But it turned out to be a delicious "where-did-this-come-from?" kind of treat!?!

I love pleasant surprises! WOW, acorn squash is really good! This recipe also has a lot of room for fun and interesting variations... Have fun with it! I know I'll be making this again! Hope you enjoy.

Recipe:

1 large acorn squash

1 lb. sausage (I used an Italian pork sausage)

1/2 yellow onion, chopped

1- 10 oz. pkg. frozen, chopped spinach

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. black pepper

pinch sea salt (optional)

1 tsp. olive oil

1/4 c water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut acorn squash lengthwise and remove seeds. Place cut side down on a baking dish. Add water to pan. bake for 20-25 minutes. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté onions. Add sausage and cook until crumbly. Steam frozen spinach slightly or microwave with a little water until thawed and ready to add to saute pan with onions and spinach. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Remove squash from the oven. Turn over, so that cut side is up. Fill centers with the sausage mixture and return to oven. Cook for an additional 20 minutes (until squash is truly tender).

Serves two. (I suggest doubling). :-)

Enjoy!!!

Grilled Pork Chops & Baked Acorn Squash

Are you feeling a little Fall in the air? I've noticed the leaves are starting to change color and the evenings are a bit cooler! I can't believe that Summer is ending and Fall is rapidly approaching, but the signs are everywhere! Especially on the driveway in the form of fallen leaves! All we can do is embrace it, and welcome a new season full of different seasonal foods to enjoy! Having said that... how about a quick dinner with minimal thought? A simple dinner that powers a lot of flavor! Maybe a dinner that utilizes a tasty traditional Fall vegetable, the acorn squash! This was a great 'quick fix', hope you enjoy!

Recipe: (embarrassingly simple)... but packs a good flavor punch!

4 Pork chops, boneless

olive oil

sea salt

black pepper

Acorn squash

sea salt

black pepper

1/4 C water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice acorn squash in half, and remove seeds (I left the skin on). Place face down on a baking dish with 1/4 C of water. Bake for about 30 minutes. Turn them over and season with sea salt and pepper. Bake an additional 5 minutes, face up.

Preheat barbecue grill to about medium heat. Rub some olive oil over pork chops and season with some sea salt and black pepper. Grill for about 20 minutes (10 minutes on each side). Time it so they're done around the same time as the acorn squash. I did check the internal temperature of the pork chops to make sure they reached 170 degrees, before taking them off the grill. Serve with a side salad or vegetable of your choice. Simple and tasty... hope you enjoy! :-)