Acorn Squash- With Attitude

I deeply (if not profoundly!) doubt the ever expanding food blog galaxy needs yet another autumnal squash recipe, but. I can't help myself.

Before the Charlie Brown smack down (aka hip incident), I threw together a flavor combo I am crazy about. Nutty for. Head over heals smack your lips and toss aside your chaste maple syrup Pilgrim traditions for. That's right. I got radical.

I added chopped roasted New Mexican green chiles to my roasted acorn squash. A sexy pinch of cumin. A golden drizzle of fruity olive oil. Impudent changes to the way we do things around here that would have sent a certain lanky, curly-haired ex-boyfriend of mine scurrying for his cream of mushroom soup casserole. In other words, Gentle Reader, home to Mama.

Note to Goddesses-in-Training:

If your boyfriend thinks your cooking is, let's say the word used is "weird" or even, Goddess forbid, "too spicy!"--- find another boyfriend.

Or girlfriend.

Whatever makes your heart race and your soul bloom.

Love is too large for labels. Too fierce and sweet and fragile for small mindedness. And it's too heartbreakingly scarce in this world to twist your authentic self into a one-size-fits-all paper thin cut-out of who you should be, who you should love, who you should worship. I'm here to tell you two things- from intimate, personal life experience. (My recent brush with mortality has stoked my desire to speak freely.)

1. Life is too damn short.

2. Love is the best thing there is. (And that means all love, Babycakes. Not just one particular, legal sanctioned uber-hetero kind of love. I mean all the rainbow love shades in between, from indigo to pink to purple.)

So if you're snagged in a cartoon cut-out of your life, scrape off tradition and the pressure to conform and the urge to please, fit in, and be nice. Nice is overrated. As is the enduring myth of perfection. So shake things up. Be bold. Love whom you love.

And for those of you naturally blessed with legally sanctioned mainstream love, open your tender hearts and vote for equal freedom and equal rights and equal marriage opportunity for all. Be generous of spirit. Stretch your muscles of compassion.

Then look yourself in the eye- with pride.

And put spicy chiles in your squash if you feel like it. No matter what Aunt Goodier Than Thou thinks.

Let your soul fly.


Acorn Squash with Green Chiles

Spice up tradition with New Mexican roasted green chiles. Use spicy hot or mildly sweet.

My non-recipe:

Roast halved seeded acorn squashes- look here for instructions (and another roasted squash recipe). Plan on half a medium squash per person.

Scoop out the cooked squash and spoon it into a pot. Add chopped green chiles to taste, and combine. Drizzle with fruity extra virgin olive oil; season to taste with sea salt, fresh pepper, cumin or curry. Add a dash of agave nectar, if you like. Cover and gently heat through.

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