SQUASH****Sausage and Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

By Unblond1

This was very good for both of us. I used pork sausage but it could easily handle turkey sausage or just ground turkey. Also, I don't think the cheese is strictly necessary

Ingredients

• 1 acorn squash, halved and seeded
• 1 tbsp. EVOO
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 4 - 6 oz. bulk pork sausage, ground pork or ground turkey
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 small celery rib, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 1 apple, cored and diced
• 2 tbsp. chopped dried cranberries or cherries
• 1/2 cup panko
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage, if no fresh on hand
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, optional

Details

Servings 2
Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 100mins
Adapted from food.com

Preparation

Step 1

* Brush cut sides and cavity of squash lightly with olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste and bake in a large roasting pan, cut side up, at 400 degrees F for 1 hour, until squash is tender yet still holds its shape.

* Meanwhile, fry the sausage until light brown. Remove pork to a colander to drain. Drain all but 1 tablespoons drippings from frypan. Add onion, celery and garlic; saute 4 minutes. Stir in apple, thyme and sage and saute 2 more minutes. Stir in cranberries.

* Combine the pork, vegetables, and breadcrumbs in a large bowl, moistening with a bit of chicken broth, if necessary.

* Fill the squash halves with stuffing-they should be slightly mounded, return to oven and bake, uncovered, for 20 more minutes, until hot. Sprinkle lightly with 2 tablespoons 4 cheese Italiano Blend for last five minutes, if desired.

NUTRITION (With ground pork):

Calories 511.6
Total Fat 25.8 g
Saturated Fat 7.8 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.8 g
Monounsaturated Fat 13.1 g
Cholesterol 61.2 mg
Sodium 102.8 mg
Potassium 1,197.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate 56.2 g
Dietary Fiber 7.6 g
Sugars 14.7 g
Protein 18.3 g

NUTRITION (With ground turkey):

Calories 407.9
Total Fat 13.8 g
Saturated Fat 3.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 5.0 g
Cholesterol 60.0 mg
Sodium 118.9 mg
Potassium 953.4 mg
Total Carbohydrate 56.2 g
Dietary Fiber 7.6 g
Sugars 14.7 g
Protein 20.5 g