Produce Briefs...
Orange Honeydew Melon
Oval-to-round and a delicious cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew, the very fleshy juicy orangish-yellow pulp of the orange honeydew melon is encased in a hard very yellow matching rind.
Italian Black Summer Truffles
Black summer truffles are more subtle than the winter variety. Shave truffle over cooked potatoes, toss with herbs and a shallot vinaigrette. Thinly shave truffle over scrambled eggs.
Seasons/Availability
Orange and Blue Hubbard squash varieties are available fall into mid winter.
Description/Taste
Plump in the middle and tapered at the neck, the Hubbard squash is wrapped in a very hard, bumpy skin ranging anywhere from a dark bronze-green to pale bluish-green to a light golden or orange in color. Inside this winter variety's seriously tough skin is a tender, golden yellow, fine grained, rather dry and mealy, dense flesh that offers a rich flavor. Hubbard squash can weigh anywhere from five to fifteen pounds and are most often marketed in cut pieces.
Nutritional Value
All squashes provide vitamin A and vitamin C, some of the B vitamins, iron and are a good source of riboflavin and dietary fiber. Deep-colored squashes have the most beta carotene. About 100 calories are in one cup of cooked squash.
Applications
Difficult to peel and cube because of its rigid exterior, Hubbard squash is most often cooked in its skin. Carefully halve Hubbard squash, if they are purchased whole, remove seeds and roast, cut-side down, until tender when pierced with fork. Prepare the same way if purchasing pre-cut sections. Scoop cooked flesh from the skin and puree into soup or stew. Cooked squash can also be mixed with wild rice or whole grains and baked into casseroles. For a sweet preparation, mix pureed squash with cream, sugar, eggs, spices and bake into pie. To store whole squash, keep in a dry cool area. Refrigerate plastic-wrapped cut pieces up to five days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Fond of squash for centuries in America, this vegetable has become a traditional fall and winter dish with its warm, soothing, comforting, delicious flavor.
Geography/History
An extensive group, Hubbards are a very old type of winter squash and are members of the Curcurbita maxima genus. The original variety of this well-known and popular squash is thought to be native to South America or the West Indies.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Hubbard Squash. One
is easiest, three is harder.
