Hubbard Squash

[DoubleDogFarm]

Others (butternut, acorn, banana, spaghetti) – of these, the only one I really like is banana. I know, a total surprise, but I have done the taste test for a number of years now. Banana squash is generally flavourful, sweet and moist, while the others often leave much to be desired. Acorn has a nice texture and mild flavour, but are hardly worth it for the pain of peeling the ridges. But they can achieve ‘worth-it’ status when baked with the peel on. Butternut used to be great 20 years ago, but has suffered from some kind of watered-down monocrop cultivation or something. I haven’t had a good butternut squash in years. Spaghetti – well, I’ve never liked it, but if you do, by all means, go for it.

and

Squash that almost nobody liked:
butternut (really!)
acorn (there was a bit of division on this, since many loved the texture. Also these probably taste better when they don't have to compare themselves to amazing hubbard and ambercup)
sugar pie pumpkins (this last was kind of unfair, because they are a bit watery and stringy compared with other squash in a plain taste-off, but they are truly excellent for baking, as in muffins and pies).

The second quote is the results of 15 students.

I agree Steve. Soil, Fertilizer, climate and under - overwatering may alter taste.

Eric

[jal_ut]

It seems that the winter squash need about six weeks after picking to fully ripen for the better flavors.

[TheWaterbug]

This might be another good opportunity to use the katana

Here's what the katana and a 9-yr-old can do with a regular pumpkin. The Hubbard will take a bit more technique:

[youtudotbe]https://youtu.be/cXRvvMbjTf4[/youtudotbe]

[TheWaterbug]

Not sure how a 3 year taste test of 14 varieties among 15 people makes the Cheif Heidi Fink a Butternut hater.

True enough. I'm just shocked that none of them liked the butternuts when I've always had such tasty ones. I'm suspecting they just buy bad ones where they conducted the test.

I'm sure she'd like _my_ butternuts

[DoubleDogFarm]

What's the background noise. Sounds like a jackhammer

Eric

[TheWaterbug]

What's the background noise. Sounds like a jackhammer

It's a jackhammer .

The next-door neighbor is having their pool rebuilt.

[jal_ut]

Butternut: I just cooked up a fair sized butternut today. I thought it had an excellent flavor. I had a bit for lunch and put the rest in the freezer for use later.

I quite like these squash, small seed cavity, and flavor and texture was good. They also seem to store well. I have several left and they all look to be in good shape.

[jal_ut]

Also cooked an Acorn squash. It was dry and tasteless. I have a Banana that I will test one day soon.

[digitS']

James,

I was inspired to have 1/4 of a buttercup as 1 of my 3 servings of fruit, this morning.

Microwaved, with butter & brown sugar .

Steve

[jal_ut]

Thanks for the report on Buttercup. I have not tried that one. I will put that on the list.

I have been hearing a lot about squash soup lately. Have never done that. Have you?

[jal_ut]

Tried a hybrid maxima squash today. I think it was a cross between Hubbard and Banana. It was excellent.

OK, at this point I am going to amend my planting list for next year.
On the list will be:
Hubbard
Banana
Butternut
Buttercup (at Digits recommendation)
a maxima cross

Missing from the list will be:
Spaghetti
Acorn
Red Kuri

[digitS']

I've just had fish chowder for dinner, James. I stay busy with soups and stews during the winter . I'm not a very good cook but they keep me out of trouble.

Squash soup? Here is a basic recipe but look below for the "Variations:" Butternut Squash Soup. I don't consider cream an option - it is a must! (I usually use half & half.)

Maggi sauce is good in place of the salt and something like ginger can make it special. Cream cheese stirred in there towards the last makes it fit for company.

Steve

[jal_ut]

Thanks for the recipe. I have been doing some searching for squash soup recipes. Found several. Looks like the main ingredients in all of them are squash, onion, and chicken broth. Many variations are possible depending on what other embellishments one adds. Cream or creamed cheese were in several of the recipes I found. Ginger and nutmeg often mentioned as spices to go in squash soup. Carrots and potatoes also mentioned.

I am going to have to try making some. Looks like you can put about anything you like in it? The only problem is the chicken broth. Guess I'll have to boil a chicken?

[jal_ut]

Spicy Add 1 chopped jalapeno chile and 1/4 tsp. cayenne with the garlic. Stir in up to 1/4 cup brown sugar at the end. If you like, cream is also a nice addition to this version.

Quote from your recipe Digits. My Mexican friend who runs a restaurant took one of my large squash and made soup. It had some heat like it had some jalapeno in it. Not surprising for him. It was good.

[TheWaterbug]

I'm trying to decide whether to add a ham hock or some bacon bits.

Opinions?

[digitS']

James,

You need to be careful . .

. with . .

. the sugar.

Thought I'd say the pepper, eh? No, peppers are a good choice, and the cream keeps it partially under control. I'm not sure how many of us like "sweet" soup and the squash is somewhat sweet to begin with! Adding an apple is almost a step too far.

Chicken broth? Almost NO bones get out of this house without being boiled first. I'll even do it for a couple of drumsticks in a sauce pan - just keep the heat real low & a timer is my friend . The secret of my soup success.

TheWaterBug, I was raised in a household where pork was not eaten. I hardly have an opinion to share. ~
~ Oh wait! I often use bacon when sauteing the onions!

Steve

[rainbowgardener]

I'm vegetarian so no chicken/ bones/ broth. But every time I cook, I simmer up all the onion peels, potato peels, garlic skins, etc etc in to soup stock. Vegetarian soups can be a little bland and watery with out really good stock to base it on, which I always have on hand. I just keep it in a lidded jar in the frig. If I haven't used it by the next time I cook veggies, I just add the new veggie scraps and some extra water in with the stock and simmer again. That way it keeps getting richer and richer.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Oh Yum. Compost tea.

Eric

[digitS']

What about the use of agar in vegetable broth, RainbowGardener?

I was the kid who used to show up at the Chinese restaurant and order seaweed soup . My friend's family had a restaurant by the time I was in high school. (Actually, the girl who sat beside me in junior high English, and held me spellbound - her family worked at a Chinese restaurant. But, that's another story .)

Anyway, the seaweed soup wasn't vegetarian but I came to the idea that the "vegetable gelatine" in the weed may have been one of the reasons I liked it. I've had it in desserts since.

Steve

[applestar]

Haha, Eric. But I think rainbowgardener has the right idea -- According to a "secrets of specialty Asian noodle soup shops revealed" book that's exactly what the chefs do to make the "secret recipe" soup base -- add the stock ingredients to what's left of the previous batch. If by chance they run out of the previous batch, the resulting stock doesn't turn out the same and they say their regular customers notice.

In Japanese cuisine, kelp broth -- konbu -- is a key ingredient in soup base/stock. Also dried anchovies and shaved dried bonito/(I think) skipjack tuna. I don't know if they use the same in Chinese -- Chinese basic soup stock often starts with chicken/pork scallions and ginger.

[ReptileAddiction]

Oh Yum. Compost tea.

Eric

This made me crack up when I read it.

[TheWaterbug]

TG is coming up; I suppose can make soup and pie with it.

This might be another good opportunity to use the katana

So mine weighed in just under 15 lbs, and we did open it using the katana:
[youtudotbe]https://youtu.be/y0q8qymCn5s[/youtudotbe]

Cubing it up and skinning it took quite a bit of work. I don't have a big enough kitchen to swing the katana indoors , so I used a Chinese cleaver, which worked pretty well.

It's pretty tasty, but not too distinctly different from the butternut, at least not eaten a week apart.

I made soup and pie for TG dinner, but I have a bag of cubes left over. Maybe tomorrow I'll open up a butternut and kabocha and do a side-by-side comparison.

[TheWaterbug]

I finally did get around to eating all three. The kabocha was far and away my favorite; it had the most intense flavor and the smoothest texture.

The particular butternut I ate was a bit of a disappointment; it was a bit stringy and weak in flavor. Previous butternuts from the same vine were much better.

The Hubbard was great in the soup and in the pie, but also a bit weak when just roasted and eaten.

So next year I'll grow butternut and kabocha for sure, and maybe one other if I have space and interest.

[digitS']

The Kabocha is delish!

However, the days-to-maturity ratings on winter squash seem to have little basis in reality in my garden. I think they just don't like the cool summer nights after the cool months of June . . . . I'm not planning on giving up on the Kabochas, tho'.

I learned how to deal with the bland taste of the jack o'lantern pumpkins. These were not "sugar pumpkins" or some other meant for eating. They were meant for jack o'lanterns . Anyway, slow roasting them at about 250°f for a couple hours seemed important. Then, after the meat was run thru the food processor, they sat in a colander and dripped (& dripped, & dripped . . .) for several hours. THEN, I had good pie for Thanksgiving! All on advice from cooks better than me .

Steve

[jal_ut]

In this country at least, it is well to hold those winter squash for a month or six weeks to finish ripening. They get much sweeter with a little time.