Acorn Squash With Polenta Soufflé And Pulled Pork Recipes

SLOW-COOKER ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut each acorn squash into 6 slices and remove seeds.
• Pour the stock and cider vinegar into a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the squash slices, drizzle with the olive oil, and sprinkle with the thyme leaves and some salt and pepper.
• Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.
• When the squash is fork-tender, heat a small saute pan over medium-high heat and add the butter. When hot but not smoking, add the thyme sprigs--they should sizzle--and fry for about 30 seconds, until darkened but not browned. Remove the sprigs to a paper towel-lined plate and let cool slightly before shaving off the leaves. Let the brown butter in the pan cool slightly, then drizzle it over the squash. Garnish with the fried thyme leaves.

STUFFED ACORN SQUASH II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Sprinkle squash with salt and pepper, and lightly spray with cooking oil. Place in a baking dish flesh side down, and cover with plastic wrap.
• Microwave on high for 10 to 15 minutes, or until flesh is fork-tender.
• Meanwhile, cook beef and pork in 1 tablespoon of oil on medium high heat until well browned, stirring frequently to crumble. Drain, and set aside. In the same skillet, cook the onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Combine beef and pork with cheese and onions, and spoon mixture into squash halves.
• Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and squash is lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

ACORN SQUASH WITH POLENTA SOUFFLé AND PULLED PORK

Steps:

• To make the pulled pork, combine the spices and sugar, rub them all over the pork roast and refrigerate overnight.
• Soak the wood chips in water 20 minutes before cooking. When ready to cook, partly fill a metal bowl with water. In the bottom of a charcoal grill, surround the bowl with charcoals. Ignite the coals, and when they are white, place the roast, fat side up, over the bowl and add some wood chips to the fire. Cook, covered, 4 to 6 hours, adding wood chips and charcoal every hour as needed, until the roast has reached an internal temperature of 185 degrees. Allow it to cool for an hour before removing the fat and pulling the pork into pieces.
• Meanwhile, make the acorn squash. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice off the tops of the squash and enough off the bottoms to make them sit flat. Scoop out the seeds and rub about 2 teaspoons of butter inside each. Roast for 40 minutes and keep warm.
• To make the polenta souffle, melt the butter in a medium pan. Stir in the corn flour and cornmeal and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Mix in the milk and 1 cup water and cook, stirring, 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Beat 2 tablespoons water into egg yolks, then stir thoroughly into the flour mixture. Add the salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, whisk the egg whites until they form stiff but not dry peaks; gently mix them into the polenta, using a wooden spoon.
• Place about cup of the pulled pork in each squash, and over that, spoon in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the souffle mixture. Bake until the souffle has become puffy and brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve immediately alongside additional pulled pork.

ROASTED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat over to 375 degrees.
• Scatter squash and garlic in a lrge roasting pan.
• Mix rosemary, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; rub into pork.
• Place in pan with vegetables; drizzle with oil.
• Roast 25 minutes.
• Brush pork with hoisin sauce.
• Continue roasting, about 15 minutes, until pork reaches and internal temperature of 140 degrees.
• Let meat stand 5 minutes before slicing into 1 1/2 inch tenderloins.
• Serve with squash, garlic, and any pan juices.
• NOTE: The recipe says to leave the skin on the squash. Perhaps this is so the squash will not fall apart during the cooking process. I did cook it as specified but took it off prior to eating.

PORK CHOPS & ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Place pork chops in a 5-qt. slow cooker; add squash. In a small bowl, mix remaining ingredients; pour over squash. Cook, covered, on low 4-6 hours or until pork is tender.

ROAST PORK TENDERLOIN WITH ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Scatter squash and garlic in a large roasting pan. Mix rosemary, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; rub into pork. Place in pan with vegetables; drizzle with oil.
• Roast 25 minutes. Brush pork with hoisin. Continue roasting, about 15 minutes, until pork reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees.
• Let meat stand 5 minutes before slicing 1 1/2 tenderloins (reserve remaining half to make Pork and Soba Noodle Salad, if desired). Serve with squash, garlic, and any pan juices.

SPICE-RUBBED PORK LOIN WITH ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons oil, sugar, chile powder, cinnamon, cumin, and 2 tablespoons water. Add squash and toss to coat. Set aside.
• Generously season pork with salt and pepper. Heat a cast-iron skillet or other heavy pan over high. Add 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat. Cook pork on all sides until deep golden brown, about 10 minutes total. Place pork on a rimmed baking sheet; pour oil from skillet onto sheet and spread evenly.
• Arrange squash around pork. Brush pork with sugar mixture from bowl. Bake until pork is cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted in center should register 135 degrees), 40 to 45 minutes, brushing meat with sugar mixture and turning squash every 15 minutes. Tent pork with foil and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.