When life sends you....

...bargain butternut squash.

 I popped into Aldi yesterday afternoon and found that they were selling butternut squash at 69p each. That is a lot cheaper than my local supermarket (£1.50), or my local fruit and veg shop (£1.16).
 Butternut squash keep for weeks, and they are just about my favourite veg, so I stocked up!

Last night I roasted two, along with some parsnips, onions and sweet potato, in a bit of oil and generously sprinkled with cumin, coriander and paprika. Whizzed it up with a bit of veg stock, and made an enormous pan full of lovely, lovely soup. Will serve it on Saturday night when I have some friends round, along with some cheesy croutons made from a sliced up, reduced price baguette (20p).

 Here's some other ways that I like to use butternut squash;

Instead of mashed potato - zero points on my weight loss program, full of vitamins, and seems to hit a similar starchy, creamy note.

Roast half moon slices with plenty of salt and pepper, and served topped with some yogurt and paprika, with chilli on the side for those who like it spicy.

Roast in halves, and stuff with a packet of sage and onion stuffing / risotto / mince and onions / tomato and veg sauce / cous cous and dried fruit.

Risotto

Cubes of roast squash stirred through cooked pasta, with a splash of cream and a grating of cheese.

With cous cous, as a packed lunch

Cooked with chick peas, a tin of toms, some dried fruit and sweet Moroccan spices like cinnamon.

Roasted cubes on cocktail sticks for party nibbles