October 20 2010 • Posted by corene

Extreme Squash

Fall is my favorite time to eat!  The harvest is peaking…pumpkins and insane variety squash are everywhere…and it’s time to braise.  All those good cooking smells have really helped make our new house feel like home.  What is your favorite thing to cook this time of year?
We have already been to several pumpkin patches but the best is yet to come.  This weekend it’s a trip to Washington State’s beautiful Skagit Valley.  If you haven’t been it’s truly a foodie family paradise. 
We love our pumpkins of course…but have also come to love the funky varieties of squash that seem to be everywhere.  This photo is of a Galeux d’Eysines squash.  The strange texture is perfectly spooky and sneakily disguised as a science lesson.  The funky warts that form on the outside are caused by a buildup of sugars under the skin.  Trust me:  One of these on your porch or centerpiece is certain to spark a conversation.
We haven’t tried carving one…which is surprising because my husband is very fond of cutting into any vegetable for the sake of art.  He was the one who came up with the ‘spook-ini’ - a giant zucchini with a face lit up by a tea light. 
Has anyone tried carving one of these warty wonders?  I’d love to post photos of your squash-o-lanterns!