I have set at my computer for several moments thinking of giving this post another name. However, I found myself laughing as I overhead my family discussing the Hubbard Squash. I will admit when I first saw it I found myself saying, “What the hell is that? I thought you went to the pumpkin patch?”

I was handed a crumbled card and was quickly told every person could pick whatever they wanted including “monster eggs” and “aliens” from the pumpkin patch. This left me with the culinary task of turning it into something not only edible, but something delicious. Looking at the rumbled card, it read “The flavor of Hubbard squash is a combination of sweet potato meets pumpkin. The flesh of Hubbard squash can be substituted for almost all other varieties of winter squash, which makes it ideal for both cooking and baking. Because of its tough rind, Hubbard squash is most often cooked in its skin. The best way to crack open a Hubbard squash is to drop it on concrete.“ Bon Appétit.
1 half of a Hubbard Squash (about 5 pounds)
2 medium apples- sliced
5 strips of bacon
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 half paseíllo pepper
1 spring of rosemary
1 quarter of bell pepper (yellow)
1 stalk of celery minced
1 cup milk
4 cups homemade chicken broth
1 Herbn’ Farm NW: Pike Place Herbs
goat cheese, for garnish
bacon, for garnish

Instructions- Lay a clean garbage bag and/or newspaper on garage floor and drop Hubbard Squash. It will, surprisingly, break in half. Drop again and you will get another half. Season squash with Pike Place Herbs and place squash in a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan, coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 40-50 minutes or until tender. Scoop out flesh and place in glass bowl. In a Dutch oven, cook bacon until crispy. Once crispy remove bacon and sauté onion, garlic, celery, pasillo pepper, and apple slices from one apple in bacon fat until tender. Season with Herb’ Farm NW: Pike Place Herbs; cook one minute longer. Stir in the broth, milk, squash, and apple slices from the second apple. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Serve with bacon crumbles, goat cheese, and apple slices.

VERDICT : This was a crowd pleaser . I say if one crosses your path, gives it a try. I will suggest you find a smaller one. One half of a Hubbard squash filled 5 quart Dutch oven and could feed a whole Halloween party. I chopped up the other half and vacuumed it into bags to see for future meals