First off, real quick: thank you to everyone who has been stopping by my Amazon link (amazon.com/shop/beautybeyondbones) before doing their Christmas shopping! It’s a free and easy way to support my desktop ministry, and it truly makes a big difference! So THANK YOU!
ONTO THE BLOG!
‘Twas the week of Thanksgiving and all ‘round the blogs,
The masses were hunting for pie and eggnog.
The posts were all hung on the pages with care
In hopes that their readers would enjoy them with flair!
The foodies were ready with pencils and pad
To jot down some recipes they were craving “real bad.”
When what to their wondering eyes did they find?
But a turkey-free main, of the Gluten Free kind!
With an ingredient list so wholesome and free,
They knew in a moment, “this dish is for me!”
Haha, I hope you liked that fun little rhyme a whipped up. Just call me Poet BBB. 😉
OK, ok, ok, I know…you’re sitting there thinking…just tell me what this deliciousness is that’s taunting my eyeballs right now!!
Haha, I hear you, friend. I hear you.
Allow me to introduce my beloved, and most requested recipe: Sweet and Spicy Butternut Squash Boats.
A slow roasted butternut squash, stuffed with a pear, quinoa pilaf.
Now, allow me to pause: If this photo looks dated, that’s because it is. Sadly, this recipe is not on the Specific Carb Diet (because it includes quinoa), so I can no longer enjoy it. BUT, back in 2010, during those 11 months on bed rest during my Ulcerative Colitis flare, I was experimenting with lots of different therapeutic diets, in order to find a solution that worked. So this recipe was born during that time before I adopted the SCD. And let me tell you, I still dream about this dish.
It is Gluten Free, Vegan, and Paleo. And believe me when I say — OUT OF THIS WORLD.
Not only is it visually stunning, but the taste is truly so unique and addicting, you’ll be pinning and bookmarking this post to return to again and again and again. I promise.
Here’s What You’ll Need: (Serves 2)
1 butternut squash, halved and roasted
1 cup quinoa, cooked in 2 cups of vegetable stock
2 pears, diced
1/2 cup almonds, toasted and chopped
1/2 cup raisins
2 big handfuls of baby spinach, chopped
Dressing:
2 tsp dijon mustard
juice of 1 BIG lemon (You may need to use 1 1/2 or 2 small ones)
3 green onions, sliced
2 drops of agave
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
salt
a little water to stretch the sauce
Tools:
Baking Sheet
Tinfoil (I use nonstick and it is a GAME CHANGER)
Sauce pan with a lid
Small mixing bowl
Good Chef’s Knife (This is the one I use and love)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spritz with olive oil. (Or simply use non-stick tinfoil.) Carefully cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. (Do this by cutting off the top and tail of the squash. This way, you have a solid, flat base to stand it up on. Then, carefully cut it lengthwise. A sharp, chef’s knife is imperative for doing this. There’s nothing more dangerous in the kitchen than a dull knife. It is really worth the investment.)
After you cut it in half, rub the flesh with 1 tsp EVOO mixed with 2 drops of agave. Then, place it flesh side up on a baking sheet, and roast it in a 400 degree oven for about an hour – until fork tender. Nice and slow.
Next, once you’re about thirty minutes into the roasting process, put the quinoa on the stove and cook it according to the package directions, using veg stock. (Be sure to use a tight-fitting lid!)
While the quinoa is cooking, mix the dressing ingredients and set aside.
After the quinoa is finished cooking, and has absorbed all the liquid, but before you fluff it with a fork, take it off the heat, and add your spinach, and immediately cover the pot for about 3 minutes, so that the spinach wilts. Then, add the dress and fluff/stir it in with a fork.
Next, add the pears, almonds, and raisins and fluff/stir those in as well.
Finally, cover with the lid for a few minutes, to allow the raisins to plump from the steam. Add salt to taste. (I added about 1 tsp.)
Once the butternut squash is finished roasting, fill the cavity with the quinoa goodness. If you just can’t get enough of the quinoa, you can cover the entire squash with it, like I did!
This meal was sensational! We already know that quinoa is a protein-packed superfood, but it is also SO versatile, and tasty! The flavor of this dish was wonderful – There was an inherent sweetness from the butternut squash, a bright sweetness from the pears, and an intense pop of sweetness from the raisins, with a spicy depth from the cinnamon and allspice. BUT! It was not at all overbearing because of the slight undertone of tang from the dijon mustard and lemon juice! The flavor was just so enjoyable.
The other great thing was the mix of textures! The pears were crunchy, the raisins were chewy, the almonds had a nice bite to them, and the quinoa kind of *pops* in your mouth! It was like a party in your mouth! Complimented, of course, by the luxuriously creamy butternut squash.
This is such a perfect dish for Thanksgiving, because not only is it incredibly delicious, but the presentation is dramatic and stunning. You place this down at your seat, and people’s eyes get really wide, and say, “Wowwww, what is that?”
So ProTip: make some extra because everyone will be begging for a bite or two!
NEXT:
A veggie turkey!
Talk about pizzaz! This handsome fella is sure to bring smiles to even the staunchest of meat eaters!
You’ll Need:
Romaine Lettuce
Celery
Asparagus
Baby Carrots
Red Pepper
Yellow Pepper
Green Pepper
Grape Tomatoes
Yellow Squash
Cucumber
Raisins
Toothpicks
LASTLY
I thought it might be helpful to share some of my favorite Thanksgiving meals I’ve made throughout the years. So below, you’ll find links to all my Turkey Day staples!
Spring Stuffed Butternut Squash
Beet & Brussels Cauliflower Flatbread
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46 responses to “Butternut Squash Boats”
Your recipes, Caralyn, makes me drool because they look so delicious. The Sweet and Spicy Butternut Squash is definitely going to be made by me. I would like to make all the recipes. xoxo Love and hugs!
haha thank you so much!!! I hope you love it!!! its definitely worth the effort! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
Those dishes look incredible! I’m so sorry you can’t eat the squash dish. I take it there’s no SCD friendly substitute for the quinoa? Oh, and the turkey is great! Do you have a dip you recommend? I like Ranch with just about any vegetable, but I thought you might have a more eloquent idea. 🙂 Hope you’re having a great week!
Thank you so much Kenneth! I make this dish with riced cauliflower nowadays, but eeh – not the same. I’m going to try it with almond flour! haha Ranch is always great! I like to stick to my trusty reliable: GUACAMOLE!!! haha thanks, friend. you too!
Hey. Sorry, didn’t know how else to ask. If I go to your Amazon page first, then search for what I want, you’ll still get credit, even if I don’t see your name anywhere in the address or the product page I’m after? I didn’t see a special link or anything, just the regular search bar at the top. Thanks! Want to be sure you get credit for it.
Oh gosh you’re so awesome to ask, thank you Kenneth. Yes! That is correct. Anything you search will be credited! 🙂 Gosh, I don’t know what I did to deserve you as a friend, Kenneth, but I sure am grateful for you!! 🙂 hugs x
Mmmmm looks delicious! I love the little turkey dog Gif! 😆❤️
Hahaha thanks John! Yeah I thought that was pretty cute too 🙂 hehe Hugs and love xox
The presentation is absolutely beautiful! I want to eat every recipe that you share; you make everything look so delicious! I have to share this with the vegans and vegetarians that I know. Maybe my brother will attempt at Thanksgiving. Thanks again for sharing. I love the veggie turkey
oh thank you so much Lane! haha, I always say, you eat with your eyes first! Isn’t the veggie turkey cute? MY BROTHER made that for me! Can you believe it!?! It was so sweet of him and his wife to do that for little ol me 🙂 hehe Hugs and love xox
[…] https://beautybeyondbones.com/2018/11/14/butternut-squash-boats/ […]
big big big butternut hugs! hahah 🙂
So excited to try this for Thanksgiving. Thank you, friend. Love you, as always!XO😄❤
Hey Tonya!! Yes! This really is such a delicious vegetarian alternative this thanksgiving! 🙂 Thank you dear friend! xoxo
Thank you for showing a delicious way to stay on Paleo and still enjoy the meal. You totally rock!!😄❤
💛💛💛you’re so welcome!
I sure hope that YOU have a great Thanksgiving.
Thank you JB. Right back atcha!! Hugs and love xox
You are very graciously welcome. Hugs and love back. Hopefully, you can run barefoot through the leaves.
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Love your recipes! Thank you, from a gluten sensitive reader!
Aw thank you so much! So glad you
enjoy them!!!
I declare you poet of the year. LOL. That was a fun read.
Hahahah thanks Ian 🙂 glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox
Loved your little poem, Caralyn. So cute!
As thank you Gail! Heheh Hugs and love xox
<3 🙂
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Wow, what a feast.
Thank you! I’d have to agree! Haha Hugs and love xox
Wow that looks amazing. Perfect for your Thanksgiving table.
Thank you so much Ray! It was most certainly delicious! Hugs and love xox
Are you still selling a cook book? My co-worker just told me that she has ulcerative colitis and is taking a medication. I’m no doctor, but certainly if your SCD could help her, I’d love to share the information. Thank you so much.
Yes, i am! Oh I’m sorry to hear your coworker is going through that. I do believe that the SCD will drastically improve her condition! I’ll be praying for her 🙂 you can get the cookbook here: https://amzn.to/2OLwY4B
Thank you. You are amazing!!!
YOU are amazing!! haha 🙂
Caralyn, you are back in my life. I am home recovering from the Surgery. Mending is on schedule and I am trying to adhere to a Diet that will be a challenged. I love your posts and support you to an unexpected level. Keep up your good works. Love you.
I will definitely be praying for you as you recover! I hope the healing process is as painfree and quick as possible. thank you for your kind words 🙂 big hugs xo
BBB,
Question please,
So I stopped by your storefront on Amazon… And wanted to make sure I understand the process because ‘we’ (your followers, fans, admirers, stalkers, possible future bf/husband/ colleagues/ and readers) want to help. So can we purchase any item through Amazon after going to your store front link, or is it only when we select an item contained/shown on your storefront?
Thank you,
Friend
Hi! Oh my gosh you are so wonder for asking! YES! So, ANYTHING you search for, will be credited. It doesn’t have to be a highlighted item in my store front. The way it works is that, when you stop by my storefront first, Amazon “flags” your IP address , and then whatever purchases you make on Amazon after visiting my site, will be credited. (And don’t worry, the “flag” thing may seem scary, but it’s just a way for them to attribute my store front as the “catalyst” that got you onto the Amazon site, if that makes sense. It doesn’t affect the prices you pay, or the ads you see, or sales or coupons or anything like that. It is just strictly for the influencer storefront attribution). Again, THANK YOU – you are incredible, and I appreciate you!!! 🙂 have an awesome day. It’s snowing here in NYC, I hope it’s nicer where you are!
I am happy to help. And that is awesome news, that we can purchase anything!
You know what feels amazing BBB?
When we have the opportunity to help others live their dreams, to see and witness miracles, and it doesnt take much on our part at all… all we need is a willing heart and spirit. Amen! May you continue living out the plans and dreams God has laid out for your life and continually be blessed and surprised by the things God has already prepared up ahead for you.
Really quick, sometimes we get scared early on, on our journey because we begin to understand that we will have to sacrifice/let go of many things in order to do his will and not ours- including things we want, material possessions, habits, and even some of our personal aspirstions/dreams. And to give up someones personal dream is no easy matter, its asking too much too soon. Ahhh, but hold steady and continue forward ahead. Trust in God, and you will discover things YOU never dreamed of, but God did.
We now see that by giving up our dreams, we can now live Gods dreams and plans for our life.
And let ask would you like to live your dreams? Or how about living out the dreams of God who created everything in existence, the stars, the sun, the moon? Need I say more.
So, what I am going to do is simply bookmark your link, and anytime I want something from Amazon, go to my bookmark to help.
I ll send others you way as well.
God bless.
Wow – you are absolutely a breath of fresh air! I am so moved by this amazing response. Heck, it’s a mini sermon, if i do say so! And you’re so right! we just need to trust God! Thank you so incredibly much for your help and support. Your are an awesome human! Hugs and love xox
I read this over the weekend and shared with my sister-in-law. We are looking forward to trying these for Thanksgiving!
Oh that’s so awesome! Thanks Shell! I hope you both love it!! Hugs and love xox
Sounds & looks amazing! Can’t wait to try the recipe!