Freezing Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash
(File Photo)

The bushel of Butternut Squash is in our garage w-a-i-t-i-n-g (similar to the bushel that was in our garage last year in October that is pictured above).  Waiting for what you may be thinking.  Waiting for me to get busy and begin prepping this delicious veggie for our freezer!  We always purchase a bushel.  Usually during the month of October, working with a few at a time the Butternut Squash are cleaned/ cut into chunks and steamed, so the chunks can be mashed.  The next step is to place the mashed squash into freezer bags.  After labeling/  dating each bag, into our freezer the bags go.  What a great veggie to enjoy not only now and at Thanksgiving but for months to come!

Butternut Squash ready for the freezer.
(File Photo)

I did say usually I am working on this during the month of October.  Well, I have not been as quick about it this year.  It is time to get busy!  

We enjoy mashed Butternut Squash served at dinner and I also substitute this veggie for pumpkin when baking in so many recipes.  Taking a bag out of the freezer and defrosting overnight in the fridge comes in handy!  If we are having this veggie as a side dish for dinner, I place the frozen veggie (taken out of the bag, first) in a microwave safe baking dish, venting the cover and defrost/ heat in my microwave.  I use my CorningWare.  No butter/ margarine nor sugar is added nor needed before placing the steaming veggie on the dinner table.   

Do you freeze Butternut Squash?  It is so delicious!   

Click here for my complete instructions that are included in this post that I wrote in 2014. 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

    

Banana Crumb Muffins

Red, yellow, salmon & white tulips and the yellow daffodils are blooming in our front cut-outs. White Viburnum blossoms line our street. The Peonies have buds! What a great sight to behold as I look through our front bow window while munching on a Banana Crumb Muffin.

Two days ago there were 2 overripe Bananas on my counter and now there are none! :) Those 2 brown spotted Bananas beckoned to be used (or tossed), so I located my Banana Crumb Muffin recipe. All of the ingredients are staples in my kitchen, but I made a few changes.

In the past two years I have been substituting Olive Oil for Vegetable Oil when baking/cooking. This muffin recipe called for melted and cooled Butter/Margarine, so I decided to substitute Olive Oil. I also decided to use less Granulated and Brown Sugars than my original recipe calls for. The result - Yum! 12 very moisty Banana flavored muffins!

This is a great way to enjoy Bananas! :) My Hubby gave the muffins two thumbs up!

Banana Crumb Muffins

Oven: 375° F

18 – 20 Minutes

Yield: 12 Muffins

Ingredients

1½ Cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Baking Powder
½ tsp. Salt
½ Cup White Sugar
2 Large OVERRIPE Bananas, mashed
2 Egg Whites, lightly beaten
1/3 Cup Olive Oil (for sauteing & baking)

Topping Ingredients
¼ Cup or a little less Brown Sugar
2 TBS. Flour
1/8 tsp. Cinnamon
1 TBS. Softened Butter/Margarine

Method

1. Mix Flour, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Salt & White Sugar in a large bowl.
2. In another bowl combine mashed Bananas, Egg Whites &
Olive Oil.
3. Stir Banana mixture into Flour mixture until moistened.
4. Spoon batter equally into paper lined muffin tin.

* * *
5. For Topping: In another small bowl mix together Brown Sugar, extra Flour, Cinnamon & softened Butter/Margarine. Sprinkle an equal amount over batter of each muffin. Press lightly.
6. Bake in a Preheated 375°F Oven, 18 – 20 Minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester that has been inserted in center of muffin comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool.

The warm weather brought out flowers, our outdoor grill and Banana Crumb Muffins! :) When I have 2 more overripe bananas, I will be baking these again!

12 muffins were too many for us to eat. Well, we really should have a little will power … so I placed a few cooled muffins in a Ziploc Freezer bag. You guessed it – into the freezer they went, to enjoy another week. :)

When you have overripe Bananas do you use them in baking or do you eat them?

Enjoy!
Yummy!