Autumn brings a colorfulliar vest of wonderful winter squash with rich flavor inside its hard shell! Winter, or hard-shelled squashes are in good supply through the winter months, and some varieties are in the pro duce department year-round. It's a good idea to introduce win ter squash to your menus and enjoy hearty, healthful eating. There are several types of delicious hard-shelled squash to schedule into your meals. Interesting shell shapes, vibrant shell and flesh colors and nutty sweet flavors bring a bounty of meal appeal to your table. While the exterior appearance of dif ferent winter squashes varies, all have bright yellow-orange flesh inside, and can usually be interchanged in recipes. Here are a few of the most common varieties. •Acorn squashes have a dark green shell color showing areas of orange which increase during storage. Shaped some what like a acom with wide ribs and pointed at one end, acom squash is small to medium in size.-This variety has a sweet nut-like flavor. CHOP-RITE TWO, INC. Quality American Workmanship! #5 CLAMP TYPE CHOPPER #lO CLAMP TYPE CHOPPER * Plates available in 3/16" (standard), 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and 1". * V-Belt Pullies available for #lO, #l2, #22 and #32 choppers. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL OR WRITE: CHOP-RITE TWO, INC. 531 OLD SKIPPACK ROAD HARLEYSVILLE, PA 19438 1-800-683-5858 FAX (215) 256-4363 www.chop-rite.com •Butternut squash is large and cylindrically shaped, with a round base and thick neck. It has tan shell color, rich orange flesh color and hearty sweet fla vor. •Hubbard squashes are large and rounded in the middle with tapering ends. They may have a dark blue, gray, green or orange shell color which is ridged with a pebbly texture. The squash has a rich, sweet fla vor. •Turban squash, with its colorful appearance, is an attractive table decoration as well as a rich and flavorful food. Turban-shaped, with a bright orange shell striped with white or green, turban squashes have hearty flavor. Winter squashes are rich sources of vitamin A and dietary fiber. Most hard-shelled squash es contribute vitamin C, potassi um and other nutrients. One cup of baked winter squash cubes has less than 80 calories and is sodium-free. When shopping for squash look for quality in appearance. The shell should be intact with no soft spots or cracks. Squashes CHOPPER #32 SCREW DOWN TYPE CHOPPER rag should feel heavy for their size. If stored in a cool, dry, well-ven tilated place, they can keep up to several months. Do not refrig erate hard shells squashes. There are three basic meth ods of preparing squash: •Steamed-Peel squash, cut into 11/2 inch chunks and place in steam basket and cover. Steam 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. •Baked whole squash-Slice off the stem end, scrape out the seeds and the stringy pulp. Brush with melted butter and season with sugar or salt, if desired. Most large squashes willrequire at least one hour or more of baking time. Prick with a fork to check for tenderness. •Baked squash halves-This method works particularly well for smaller varieties such as the Acom squash. Cut the squash lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and stringy portions. You can slice off a small piece on the bottom of each half to sit secure ly. Brush the flesh with melted butter. Place upside down in a baking pan; add water to a depth of about 3/4 inch and bake for about 30 minutes in a 400°F oven. While squash is baking, prepare a butter-sugar mixture, combining 1/3 cup melted butter with 1/4 cup honey, brown sugar Lebanon County Li’l Miss (Continued from Page BIO) stalls for the cattle. Temperatures range between 60-110 degrees. “When my host family visited us in 1992, they were freezing," Sherry said. Both Sherry and Bob grew upon dairy farms. They always wanted #27 HEALTH FOUNTAIN JUICER ❖ Made in the U.S.A. ♦> Easy to Clean * Made from Cast Iron v Quality Workmanship - #I6T cherry signer or maple syrup for every 2-2 1/2 pounds squash. At the end of the baking time, turn squash cut up, and baste with the pre pared mixture. Continue baking about 15 to 30 minutes or until tender. Squash can be used in a vari ety of ways. You can mash cooked squash with a dash of TOWANDA (Bradford Co.) - Have you wanted to use a chain- * saw to cut your own firewood or remove some “problem” small trees but you were just a little intimidated by the machine? Have you been using a chainsaw but your are not quite sure what you were doing? If that is the case then consider Chainsaw Use for The Novice. This work shop will be held on Saturday, October 17 at the Da-Mar Farm in Rushville. Instructors Dave and June Sienko and Eleanor Maas have received training in safety and use of the chainsaw from some of the best instruc tors in the world. Dave Sienko has been in the logging business for years and is well known as a safe operator. Topics that these instructors will cover include: to continue dairying, but felt too strapped financially and time-wise when they were on their own. “Now we get every third weekend off,” Bob said. “And we still get to farm.” They enjoy helping Royell with her dairy promotions. #1 CLAMPLESS TYPE CHOPPER ,USAGE STUFFER, LARD & FRUIT PRESS Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, October 17, 1998-811 Chain Saw Safety hot-pepper sauce and minced onion for a spicy taste or you can add pureed cooked winter squash in soups. Another wonderful sugges tion is to stuff winter squashes with fruit, vegetable or meat fill ings. Then bake and enjoy a hearty, natural casserole. • Correct Felling and Bucking Techniques • Proper Clothing and Safety Tips • Care and Maintenance of the Saw. The workshop begins prompt ly at 9:00 a.m. and continues until noon. There is a $5 per per son fee and registration is limit ed to the first 25 paid regis trants. To register, send your name, address and phone num ber with a check made payable to Bradford County Cooperative Extension and mail to; Chainsaw, Penn State Cooperative Extension, PO Box 69, Towanda, PA 18848-0069 For more information call Bob Hansen the Bradford County Extension Office at (717) 265- 2896 And, everyone of them enjoys drinking milk and using lots of dairy products. For one of RoyelTs favorite recipes, look for the featured recipe on the “Home on the Range” page. #3 FOOD CHOPPER £^9 STUFFER HORN AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS SIZES