Squash

I have a new obsession. Well, it's not quite an obsession, more like a quest or a keen interest.

I used to think squash was disgusting (except maybe when I was a baby). I always liked pumpkin desserts, but that is where I drew the line. Everything changed a couple years ago when I saw my mom heating up a section of butternut squash in the mircrowave for her supper. She told me how easy it was to cook and gave me a taste. I decided it didn't taste too badly after all. She gave me a couple sweet dumpling squash from a local orchard and I went out and bought a butternut squash.

This year the whole squash thing has become a quest to try them all. I started out with what I was used to and ate a butternut squash. Then I wanted to try the popular acorn squash. It was great - good texture and flavor. Next was a spaghetti squash. That one was strange - all stringy once I cooked it - and it the flavor was weak. Now every time I go to the store I pick up a new kind of squash to try. Some of them are terrible. The kabocha variety must originate from Japan because "kabocha" is the word for squash in Japenese. The kabocha squash I had was awful. It might have been good in a soup or some other dish, but by itself was terrible. I just bought delicata and carnival squash that I can't wait to try. I really hope I can get to all the varieties of squash before they disappear from my local supermarket.