Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: Mosslane on October 14, 2011, 10:10

Title: Todays gift - how best to store them.
Post by: Mosslane on October 14, 2011, 10:10
Our lovely neighbour gives us lovely veggies from her garden all the time. We return the favour with baking cakes or bread or helping with harvesting. Yesterday we helped to collect in the squashes.

Today we came home from town to discover 6 Butternut squash and 6 huge pumpkins by the door.

Can anyone suggest how best to store them as we will take all winter to eat them.
Title: Re: Todays gift - how best to store them.
Post by: compostqueen on October 14, 2011, 11:36
I love them and eat loads.  I had a small squash last night in a recipe gleaned from a free recipe leaflet in Tesc*  :)  Fusili pasta and goats cheese combo flavoured with red onion, garlic, fresh sage leaves, lemon juice and lemon zest (half a lemon) salt and pepper.  Oh and toasted pine nuts. It was delish and the carnivores at our house wolfed it down

I use them sliced into thick wedges, drizzled with olive oil and sea salt. At that stage you can peel them when cooled and turn them into soup.  You can put them with other veggies on a roasting tray and have them with meat or not.  I've even made jam with mine  :D  They go well with mash, about half and half.  Curry is also a good dish for using them up. If you like rice dishes such as a pilaff or a risotto you can add some cubed squash.

Roasted round the joint too is a good idea.    Store in a cool, dry, airy place. Keep checking them as you don't want an exploding pumpkin  :D
Title: Re: Todays gift - how best to store them.
Post by: mumofstig on October 14, 2011, 11:38
Lucky you :D somewhere cool and dry is best for them and pumpkins store for longer than butternuts in my experience ;)

I store mine in an unheated bedroom, as out in the garage it was cold enough for them to spoil, and I think your winters are even colder  :unsure:

It sounds like you've settled in really well, and things are working out for you  :)