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Christmas Articles - Seasons Change and So Can Tastebuds

Last Christmas was a weird experience in itself. First of all, as a college student, you get a longer Christmas break because you finish exams early. So, with a month of freedom under my belt, I decided to go back home to Manitoulin Island and visit my grandmother.

Now, as an individual who is aware of what she eats, my grandmother tends to try new things regarding fruits and vegetables.

At my first dinner back home, she had decided to eat this rather large and weird-looking vegetable instead of making an ordinary salad. To my surprise, it was a squash.

Now, as a kid, I never thought much of squash. It just didn’t appeal to me (maybe because of its name). To be honest, I think I have never tried squash, even though I have said I despise its taste.

Little did I know that we were having winter squash for dinner at my grandmother's that night.

Since not knowing how to prepare squash, I watched in awe as my grandmother worked her magic in the kitchen. She took one large squash, sliced it in half, and removed the seeds.

She sprinkled pepper, salt, and a little bit of olive oil to replace the seeds. To cook it, she would roast the squash in the oven at a medium temperature for about 30-45 minutes until the flesh was tender. Ta-da! Dinner was served!

Even though I was initially reluctant to try it, the squash tasted pretty good. It was definitely a different dinner alternative and is very healthy for you.

Winter squash is full of nutrition because it’s an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.

But don’t mistake winter squash for the ordinary type of squash. This variety is different because it is harvested and eaten in the mature fruit stage, when the seeds within have fully matured, and the skin becomes hard.

There are also different varieties of winter squash, such as butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and acorn squash.

But don’t the name fool you; squash is a delicious vegetable that’s easy to make and can brighten up your dinner occasionally.

If you’re interested in giving winter squash a chance, try these delicious recipes:

Whipped Yams and Winter Squash Casserole

Winter Squash and Apple Soup

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