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With all the vibrant colors of fall richly surrounding us, it seemed an absolutely delicious idea to create a meal with fall farm market finds that tantalize the senses with a rainbow of color and flavor.

Fox Cities Farm’s market booth invited us to a sampling of their beautiful fall fare; we gratefully received: (Look for them at the Downtown Appleton Winter Farm Market inside City Center!)

• Heart of Gold Squash, whose beautiful outer shell of cream, green and highlights of orange beautifully compliment the delicious golden interior...just like a pot (or Heart) of Gold at the end of the rainbow!
• huge and vibrant purple-red onions,
• fresh grown Music Garlic cloves and
• pretty purple carrots.

Feeling inspired by the beautiful rainbow of color, I decided to create a stuffed squash dish that would allow us to revel in the rainbow during our dinner.

Heart of Gold squash is a hybrid of acorn and sweet dumpling squash that has a pleasant texture and tastes every bit as sweet and mellow as my favorite butternut squash, and comes in the perfect size for dinner for two.

Preparing the Heart of Gold Squash ~

I washed the squash and sliced it open from stem to bottom, scooped out the seeds and roasted the squash face down in a glass dish with about ¼” of water in the bottom.  To keep the moisture high, I covered the dish lightly with foil and baked at 375º F for one hour, until juicy and tender (use a fork to check for tenderness any time after 40 minutes, depending on size of squash).

When the squash is juicy tender, remove from oven and turn the squash halves upside-right.  Brush a little ghee on the flesh of the squash and sprinkle with salt, pepper and smoky paprika.

Meanwhile…prepare:

Rainbow Rice Stuffing for the squash ~

While the squash was baking and becoming oh so fragrant, I prepared the rainbow rice stuffing, utilizing the rest of the veggies from Fox Cities Farm and some freshly harvested arugula and red pepper from our home garden.  We’re loving the extended season this year; easy to appreciate in Wisconsin, right!?

You will need:

2 TBSP Ghee

Seasoning:

1 tsp Ginger powder

1 tsp Curry powder

1 ½ tsp Garam Masala

¼ tsp Smokey Paprika

Salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Veggies**:

Arugula (one handful, chopped)

Purple Carrots (1 C., sliced thin)

Red Bell Pepper (¼ C., diced)

Garlic (1 clove, crushed)

Cilantro (fresh, for garnish)

Other:

2 C. cooked Indian Basmati Rice (1 C. dry rice, rinsed and prepared ahead of time)

Caprine Supreme’s Garlic and Chive Chevre (if you desire, when serving)

**Feel free to switch up the veggies according to what is currently available to you; be creative!

Loving Preparation:

Bring a deep skillet to medium-high heat.  Melt the ghee.  Add the onions and sauté until tender translucent. Add red pepper, purple carrots, purple red onions, garlic...sauté until tender, adding small amounts of water as the veggies cook for moisture and steam.  Add the ginger, curry and garam masala...and a little more water, continue to sauté to meld the flavors for a few minutes. Add the arugula and cook for just 2-3 minutes more.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Adjust seasonings to taste.

Add the cooked Indian Basmati Rice to the prepared veggies.  Stir to blend and integrate the flavors.

Scoop the Rainbow Rice mixture into the now turned upside right squash halves.  Be generous, pack them well and allow the stuffing to heap above the surface of the squash.

Return to the oven, uncovered, and bake at 375º F for another 15 minutes.

Garnish with fresh minced cilantro and some small dollops of Garlic and Chives Chevre from Caprine Supreme Goat Cheese, if you please.  Mmm...creamy, mellow and rich.

enJOY!

This recipe was inspired by the vibrant veggies graciously given to Debra and Mark by Fox Cities Farm and Caprine Supreme Goat Cheese vendor booths at the Downtown Appleton Farm Market.  Big THANKS to both vendors for their generosity!

Watch for this recipe and more in Debra’s Vibrant Yum - Loving Awareness Recipes for a Happy, Healthy, Whole Life … coming soon!

Debra Gehrke is a vibrant yum foodie, love and joy living yogini, mantra musician and life transformation guide.  She believes wholeheartedly that life is meant to be JOYfully delicious and that with Loving Awareness, and the commitment to shining our inner Light, our realities become that of our heart and soul’s deepest dreams come true.

For more information on Debra and Mark’s offerings and events, please visit www.lovingawareness.org.