Thanksgiving Stuffed Acorn Squash

I look forward to a stuffed acorn squash at home every Thanksgiving, and at Claire's we serve this recipe throughout the fall and winter months. Our customers love it.

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups organic apple juice or cider
• 1/2 stick butter or 1/4 cup trans fat-free margarine
• 1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped
• 6 stalks celery, including leaves, sliced
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 6-8 fresh sage leaves, chopped, or 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 1/2-ounee package Italian or other meatless sausage links, cut into thin slices
• Salt and pepper
• 1 loaf whole wheat Italian bread, cut into 1-inch slices, then each slice cut into quarters
• 1/4 cup organic unsweetened applesauce
• 1 medium organic apple, Mcintosh or other, cored and chopped
• 3 large acorn or butternut squash, cut in half and seeded

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Measure the water, apple juice, butter, onion, celery, thyme, sage, fennel seeds, and the meatless sausage into a large pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then stir to combine. Cover and set over a high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook at a medium boil, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes, until the celery just softens. Remove from the heat. Stir in the cut bread, applesauce, and apple, mixing well to combine. Taste for seasonings.

2. Divide the stuffing evenly among the squash halves, mounding as needed. Arrange the stuffed squash in a roasting pan (or two if needed). Pour water into the pan, around (not over) the squash, to a depth of 1 inch. Spray the non-shiny side of a large sheet of foil (if the shiny side is down, the stuffing will get too brown) with cooking oil spray, then cover the pan tightly, tenting as needed to avoid pressing on the stuffing. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.

Submitted 10/25/13.
Source: Welcome to Claire's: 35 Years of Recipes and Reflections from the Landmark Vegetarian Restaurant by Claire Criscuolo
Submitted By: B Smith

Thanksgiving Stuffed Acorn Squash