Ok, this is where I 'fess up to being a cooking imbecile. I'm a truly appalling cook.

How do you cook butternut squash (and for how long etc)? I totally love the stuff but I've always avoided buying it for home because I don't know what to do with it.

Anyone know how many calories are in an ounce of it?

Thanks in advance.

I love it too, its nice if you just cut it in quarters and scoop out the seeds and roast in the oven, takes about 1/2 an hour then just eat as it is, I have a good soup recipe too:

1 Butternut squash (roast whole in the oven for 45 mins or till soft then cool and peel and scoop out seeds)
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 and a half pints of veg stock (I use 2 knorr stock cubes )
Pinch of grated nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste

Method: cook butternut squash as instructed above, whilst this is in the oven place all other ingredients in a pan and cook till veg are soft, then add the squash and remove from the heat, whizz it all up in a food processor/blender and bobs your uncle!!

It is very low in fat and lovely and thick and very tasty!!

PS just looked it up on nutritiondata and it is 13 cals per ounce and 0% fat !!

Thanks for that - what temperature would you use? (electric)

Can you boil the stuff? How long does it take?

About 200 degrees, you can boil it I think but the thing is that it is really hard to peel unless its already cooked! It is a lovely veg, i have only just started using it since I bought the Gillian McKeith you are what you eat cookbook, she does loads of stuff with it, in fact I have made some butternut squash bread from that if you want the recipe?

Thanks Tracy - I'll try the roasted version.

Butternut squash bread? It sounds delicious but, um, you don't know me. I once got my potatoes, carrots and meat to finish cooking at the same time. I was so proud of myself that I was still chuffed a week later

Doughnut, I'm so glad that I'm not the only one that doesn't know what I'm doing in the kitchen!

Thanks for the recipe. I love butternut squash soup.

u can also mash butternut squash, goes nice with a roast dinner along side normal roasties, be carefull of how much u have though :-)

I like it roasted - just cut in to rings about 2 inches wide, scoop out the pips and then cut the rind off. Cut each ring in to four and turn over in a little olive oil. Then put on a baking sheet and roast for about 40-45 minutes @ gas 6, 200C, 400F until soft in the middle and brown round the edges.

That's an absolute understatement. I'm going to send you a pm cos I'd be too easily identifiable from the story

Thanks for all the recipes. When I identify the relevant vegetable in its whole form at the supermarket (not kidding ) I'll give it a whirl.

Doughnut, we can learn together and share our embarassing stories!

I've been eating loads of butternut squash soup recently, I love it, especially that slightly sweet taste.

Wow, this sounds yummy. I am going to give it a whirl. Thanks!