This past week, I’ve been cooking and baking up a storm in the kitchen because (a) I’ve had more time since my classes finished, and (b) once I board a plane for Beijing this upcoming Saturday morning, no more kitchen fun for five weeks! So, I’ve got to let my cooking creativity flow before I go.
Here’s a new one: how to combine avocado and feta cheese in a single dish, with ease, elegance, and enthusiasm (ok, I may have made up the three “e’s”, but I will strive to radiate them all 🙂 ). When Denise of Quickies on the Dinner Table and Lazaro of Lazaro Cooks! issued their Quickies: Morning, Noon, and Night Cooking Challenge, I immediately started forming exotic combinations in my head.
Avocado, feta, and … burdock root? Nah, too chewy.
Avocado, feta, and … sea cucumber? Nah, too much like snot.
Hmm.
Wait, look what I found in our kitchen!
I can do something with this acorn squash … how about:
Acorn Squash Cradles Avocado, Feta, Tomato, and Egg (a.k.a. Stuffed Acorn Squash)
Serves 2
Ingredients:
One acorn squash
2 eggs
2 small tomatoes or 1 large tomato, diced (you’re using a serrated knife, right??)
1 avocado, seed removed and avocado sliced
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Your favorite fresh or dried herbs (I used fresh thyme)
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wash and cut your acorn squash in half. Use a ridiculously large knife if necessary.
(This Japanese knife is called the “Pig-Sticker”. No, I’m not kidding. I wish.)
Spray lightly with oil and roast cut side up for 30 minutes, or until you can pierce the squash easily with a fork.
Meanwhile, combine beaten eggs, tomato, half of the avocado, and half of the feta. Pour into a lightly oiled pan over medium heat and scramble (push egg mixture toward center of pan repeatedly so that the egg “scrambles” ).
Once the acorn squash has cooled slightly, crumble a little feta into the “cup”.
Spoon the scrambled egg mixture into the squash and top with more feta and the rest of the avocado. Add fresh ground pepper and flake salt, if desired.
Serve an acorn half to each person with a spoon and enjoy!
Easy? Most definitely! Elegant? Well, it depends on how elegantly you can eat when you’re digging around with a spoon. Enthusiastic? How do you measure enthusiasm, anyway? I guess I can say that I dug at my acorn squash with gusto 🙂 Avocado and feta cheese is a delicious combination.
For those of you who want to enter the Quickies Challenge, visit this post for the rules. I’m crossing my fingers for a win because the prize is a copy of Denise’s superb cookbook, Quickies: Morning, Noon, and Night.
Thanks to Denise and Lazaro for cooking up such a fun contest! 😀
Did you know that eggs are a cheap but powerful source of protein? For those of you who include eggs in your diet, I’ll talk a little about how important they are next week. In the meantime, have a great day, everyone!
Q: Do you have a “go to” quick meal for those days when you need a meal FAST?
Christina (Dinner at Christina's) says
May 18, 2010 at 7:12 pmYum I LOVE stuffing squash! It’s also so easy to serve – just grab a fork!
One of my go-to meals, especially if I forgot to thaw meat, is a one pot bean and rice meal. http://www.dinneratchristinas.com/2009/11/southwestern-rice-and-bean-bowl.html
homecookedem says
May 18, 2010 at 7:33 pmOh my goodness, that stuffed squash looks awesome!! I never would have thought to put eggs in it!! Looks great!! 🙂
Katie @ Health for the Whole Self says
May 18, 2010 at 7:48 pmWow, you are so clever and creative! I never would have thought of such a combination, but it sounds like it works!
When we need a quick dinner, I often throw together a big taco salad b/c I usually have the main ingredients on hand.
Ameena says
May 18, 2010 at 8:43 pmI need a meal fast every day because I am not very good at planning in advance anymore! I used to have it down but I think I just got tired of thinking a whole week ahead.
Love this recipe Jessie. And I guarantee you that once you are in China the last thing you’ll be thinking about is cooking. 🙂
denise @ quickies on the dinner table says
May 18, 2010 at 8:47 pmHi Jessie – I lOVE the idea of a stuffed squash! You’re the first to do this for the challenge, far as I know! Very unique preparation and it sounds really tasty. Of course when you cook something, we always know it’s healthy on top of yummy!
I must say I’m tempted to try it – if only I could get a nice, not too huge squash right now! Thanks for a wonderful entry to the challenge 🙂
John says
May 18, 2010 at 9:10 pmThat looks good and easy. My go to meal is a smoothie. Hard to screw up a blender meal 🙂
Katherine says
May 18, 2010 at 9:33 pmhaha too much like snot. that’s not the exact reason I give for not eating sea cucumber but I like it
aletheia says
May 18, 2010 at 9:52 pmDear Jessie,
I am going to miss you truly and sincerely when you’re gone in Beijing… 🙁 However, I understand that you must enjoy the relics of life and am thus willing to compromise with China…provided they return Jessie back promptly after 5 weeks and happier than ever before. WAHAHAHA.
I love your kabocha cradle–it’s like omelette in an acorn! Kind of like soup in a bread-bowl, except much, much more ELEGANT. 😛 I hope yours is the winner, Jess. 🙂
My quick go-to meal = a kale salad with avocado. I guess that’s not very creative at all, but I usually have washed greens on hand so it really is just a matter of putting them all in a big bowl, dressing it up with BOSC pears, herbs, and other fixings; and finally, plunking down a huge avocado on top. I’m all for quick and nutritious.
🙂 Aletheia
Lauren (OneDayataTime) says
May 19, 2010 at 1:07 amI second Aletheia’s comment- I am going to miss you dearly while you are gone! I hope you have a truly amazing time though.
I love your recipe- so creative and simple. Quickie recipes are definitely what I need in my life right now. I don’t have time or energy to cook complicated meals.
My go-to quick meals are usually take out haha. But healthy take out from trusted restaurants, and only if I’m extremely tired. Otherwise I like making something easy myself, like a quick salad or stirfry.
Good luck with the contest. I hope you win! xox
Danielle (Coffee Run) says
May 19, 2010 at 1:20 amIt took me YEARS of cutting tomatoes to learn that a serrated knife works best! Especially if you have a dull knife…you’ll end up with mushed tomato
Go-to meal = anything in the freezer! Veggie burgers, left-overs, wraps…
Faith says
May 19, 2010 at 7:14 amWow, I think I need that knife — it looks amazing! 🙂 The salty feta and the creamy avocado are a great combination…your recipe looks fantastic!
Lauren (Health on the Run) says
May 19, 2010 at 11:25 amThat stuffed squash looks amazing!! What a great combination! 🙂 (though I do believe that avocado + feta make almost anything taste great)
My go-to meal is just pasta with sauteed veggies and my dad’s homemade marinara sauce (that he makes for me and cans). It doesn’t take much time and most certainly doesn’t need any sort of creativity…or thought at all. 🙂
I hope you have an amazing time in Beijing!! You will be missed, but I can’t wait to hear about all of your adventures.
luvtoeat says
May 19, 2010 at 12:28 pmJessie, that’s such a creative and fun recipe! I wish I had your talents to put something so delicious, healthy, and so pleasing to the eye like this. My Dad used to chop up tomatoes and pan fry them with a beat up egg and call it Chinese pizza just so I would eat eggs and tomatoes lol. If he woulda made this for me I’m sure if he named it super Healthy Delight I would have still gobbled it down. I really hope you win Jessie cause this dish is colouful and fun enough for the kiddies but also healthy and scrumptious for the adults. I’m still trying to figure out which category I belong to 😉 but the point is, no matter which category this dish has something for everybody. Need I even say it…great dish my friend!
My quick go to meal would probably be a bowl of spicy (can’t leave out the spicy) ramen noodles with some veggies and an egg. Not the healthiest but quick and comforting 😛 Hope you’re having a great week so far. Have fun packing for BEIJING! So excited for you 😀
Michelle says
May 19, 2010 at 12:49 pmMy quick dinners usually involve heating something up in the microwave, but I’ve gotten into a really great habit of cooking on Sunday’s and packaging them into tupperwares so when i get home from work all tired during the week, I can just heat it up in the micrwave!! It’s pretty awesome if you ask me to not have to cook on a weekday. 😛 hehehe
Melinda says
May 19, 2010 at 1:45 pmI love that you stuffed it in the squash. Very cute. My fast meal is usually heating up a frozen boca chili. But if I have 30 minutes (not 5) then I will do some rice, tofu and veggies.
Nicole, RD says
May 19, 2010 at 6:03 pmI want to enter that challenge, too…but I’m have a brain fart! I love your idea! I always throw Smart Balance, brown sugar, and a bit of maple syrup and pecans into an acorn squash…I love the savory route you went!!
Go-to dinner = breakfast!
Lazaro says
May 19, 2010 at 11:13 pmWhat a inventive entry into the Quickies Challenge. Thank you for supporting our endeavor.
Safe & blessed travels.
Cheers!
Lucy says
May 20, 2010 at 12:02 amThat knife looks scary, the food looks delectable, and, wow, your trip is really coming up soon now!! I love eggs, I usually have them on weekends. Omelettes with some veggies and smoked salmon are sooo good! I try to have a pot of soup in the fridge all the time. If I’m really in a rush, I don’t mind having some peanut butter on toast 🙂 Yes, I’m still a child at heart 🙂
runnerforever says
May 20, 2010 at 12:07 amI have never seen this creation, sounds very rich. Frozen meals are my super fast fix.
Joanne says
May 20, 2010 at 7:11 amI’m pretty sure that if I could, I would stuff anything into a winter squash and eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’m also pretty sure I would turn orange if I did that. Which is maybe why I don’t do it.
This looks like one fantastic meal!
(PS – I sent you my guest post. Let me know what you think!)
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
May 20, 2010 at 10:21 amYour elegant dish looks wonderful 🙂 I wish I had a fast snack available every time I need food quickly, but most of the time I don’t and end up spending time digging the cupboards.
Kristen (swanky dietitian) says
May 20, 2010 at 11:25 amThat dish looks super tasty..and you just can’t go wrong with feta.
My go-to meal usually is Annie’s mac and cheese. I usually add it some veggies to bulk it up.
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
May 20, 2010 at 11:26 amI looooove stuffed squash. one of my all time favorites. that looks delicious!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing says
May 20, 2010 at 11:58 amWhen I need to eat fast, sandwiches, salads and omelettes are my quick go tos!
Your stuffed squashes look fantastic! What a great flavor combo :).
Ana (AnActive Adventure) says
May 20, 2010 at 12:07 pmThat looks soo good girl! I have never done stuffed squash before nor have I combined avocado with feta, BUT that combo sound amazing!
kalli@fitandfortysomething says
May 20, 2010 at 2:59 pmoh this looks delicious! way to make good use of your time!
Light Delight with TouTou says
May 20, 2010 at 3:23 pmHey Jessie!!!!!!!! It’s great to be able to read your post and immersed in this lovely blog world again!!! what a creative idea. I love feta cheese ( it’s really funny that my Chinese stomach can take lots lots of cheese!) and I feel it’s great in any dish .
Can’t help laugh when I saw that knife – it’s quite sharp! be careful when using it:D
Hope you have a gorgeous day,and continue your food creations,
XOXO
Tou Tou
Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries says
May 20, 2010 at 3:35 pmI have been wanting to try acorn squash for so long! Yours looks so yummy. My go-to dinner is a sweet potato or any of Amy’s frozen food products!
Christine @ Grub, sweat and cheers says
May 20, 2010 at 11:08 pmPig Sticker?! Omg that’s hilarious.
Great looking meal. I adore butternut squash but don’t know for certain if I’ve ever had acorn squash…is the taste similar?
Simply Life says
May 21, 2010 at 8:04 amWow, what a great idea for the squash! Go to meals are usually eggs, pasta or stir-fry!
Heather @girlichef says
October 31, 2012 at 7:18 pmI’ve never thought of eating avocado with winter squash – but I love the sound of it! I mean, surely two rights can’t make a wrong. Fantastic combo. 🙂
Jessie says
October 31, 2012 at 9:31 pmThanks! 🙂