Festive and Delicious Quinoa Stuffed Vegan Delicata Squash

Delicata Squash in Foreground

 

Delicata Squash is a type of heirloom squash that has thin pale yellow skin with dark green or orange stripes, and bright orange flesh inside.

Its sweet flavor is similar to butternut or acorn squash, with a slightly nuttier taste.

Some people may not have ever eaten this variety of squash, but rest assured. Delicata tastes sublime and is cost efficient.

It has the velvety texture of other winter squash, and the sweetness of sweet potatoes. 

No need to peel this variety of winter squash, because once Delicata is roasted, its skin is edible. This makes it flavorful, economical, and easy to prepare.

One 3.5 oz. serving of Delicata is only 34 calories. It's gluten free, and high in fiber. It also is a good source of Vitamin A and C. For more see  "9 Amazing Delicata Squash Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits." 

Festive and Delicious Quinoa

 Stuffed Vegan Delicata  

Squash Recipe

Quinoa Stuffed Vegan Delicata Squash with tofu, garlic, and herbs makes for a pretty presentation on any holiday table, or whenever you fancy a flavorful, filling meal!

Ingredients:

2 Delicata Squash

1 ½ cups quinoa (any variety you like) cooked according to package directions

6-8 oz. cooked tofu cubed, sliced, or mashed

3-4 garlic cloves minced fine (sauté for a few minutes in 1 teaspoon olive oil to brown)

½ cup fresh minced parsley or other fresh herb you enjoy

1 ½ teaspoon salt free Italian seasoning blend

2 Tablespoons orange juice or more to taste

 

What to do:

1.Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Wash outside of the Delicata squash thoroughly. Cut off the tough part on the ends, cut squash in half lengthwise, and scrape out the seeds and pulp with a fork. 

Prepping the squash in this way hollows out a cavity for the filling. You may discard the seeds or clean them to roast for later use.

3. Place Delicata halves face up in a roasting pan or sheet pan and roast for at least 30 minutes or until a fork can easily pierce the peel. If shells seems too dry, add a drop or two of water to each.

4. While Delicata is roasting, prepare quinoa according to package directions (15-20 minutes). 

Quinoa Needs to be Rinsed Before Cooking It 

Although quinoa is a seed, it is prepared like a grain. It’s a complete protein, full of fiber and a good source of calcium, magnesium, and iron, making it a great alternative to grains. And it’s gluten free.

5. Combine stuffing ingredients including cooked quinoa, tofu pieces, minced garlic, seasonings, and orange juice.

6. Scoop stuffing mixture into cooked Delicata shells, and heat in the oven for another 10 minutes, or until it’s hot, browned, and fork tender.

Serve as a festive main dish with a tossed salad or other cooked veggies. 

Roasted Quinoa Stuffed Vegan Delicata Squash with Sweet potatoes and Brussel sprouts 

You may want to cook squash and quinoa one day in advance. If you do, don't put stuffing in the squash, but keep each part of the dish in containers that are refrigerated. 

Fill the cooked Delicata shells with stuffing the day of your planned lunch or dinner, and heat. 

This recipe serves four hearty eaters.

If you want to stretch the recipe or have a small appetite, cut squash halves in half. 

Serve each chunk atop a crunchy green salad. It will serve 8 for lunch or brunch this way.

Shop and eat Delicata Squash in the fall and winter (in-season) or plant and grow some in your home garden.

Eat Delicata for its flavor, eye-appeal, health benefits, and ease of preparation. 🌟

Have you ever eaten Delicata squash? Do you think you'll give it a try?

Please comment below in the comment section. I'd love to know if my recipe sounds intriguing to you.

Did you learn something new from this recipe post? Does it validate or reinforce things that you already do to enhance a healthy lifestyle and how or why?

Cooking new recipes at home can be the start of a new hobby and creative outlet for you.  

When you prepare meals at home, you have more control over the ingredients, and ensure you’re eating fresh, wholesome meals. 

Eating better quality food can help you look and feel healthier, boost energy, stabilize weight and mood, and improve your sleep and overall wellness.

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This post is offered for educational and entertainment purposes only, and not intended as health or nutrition advice. 

 

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Best Colors to Wear on Valentine’s Day

 

What color or colors will you choose to wear on Valentine's Day?

This blog post provides details about the color meanings of RED, WHITE, and PINK, the most popular clothing colors to don on Valentine’s Day.

After you learn what symbols and ideas are associated with each color, you will be better able to select color-infused attire that makes you feel vibrant and most attractive.

RED is the color of romance, passion, love, and lust. Red is the most emotionally intense of all colors, and looking at it or wearing it can increase your heartbeat, metabolism, or even raise blood pressure.

The color red has the longest wave length, and is visible to the eye, even from a long distance away. The color red captures attention.

There are many shades of red including scarlet, ruby, cherry, red wine, strawberry red, cranberry, and burgundy. Wear those that resonate with you.

If you wear a dress, high heels, or hat in a flattering shade of red, it can convey many things such as your availability, liveliness, confidence, and resolve/willpower.

In fact, red is the color that has been chosen to represent heart health. This year National Wear Red Day ® and American Heart Month National Wear Red Day is Friday, February 3, 2023. Wear red to connect with heart health and practice lifestyle habits that help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Photo Credit/ Go Red for Heart Health

Due to its stimulating effect, the color red is an extreme color. It’s sometimes seen as aggressive, so it’s not the best color for business negotiations.

Red clothing, however, does get you noticed, which is why it’s the color of attraction and great for Valentine’s Day.

See "Secrets to Selecting Top Fashion Colors to Flatter You," for help identifying and selecting clothing and accessory colors that complement your skin undertone and look fabulous on you.

Red is a versatile color. It goes well with black, white, pale pink or hot pink, navy blue, and many other colors. However, red isn’t the only color to wear for romance on Valentine’s Day.

WHITE is a color that symbolizes purity, and is a sweet, romantic color. If you have lighter coloring, winter white paired with pink is a beautiful combination. White can also symbolize innocence, eternal love, and love for the divine.

Brides in Western countries commonly wear white wedding dresses. Historically, a connection between the color white and its meaning of purity and goodness to signify a bride’s virginity, started many centuries ago.

There is a strong religious component to the meaning of the color white. It is thought to signify heaven, the divine, and holiness.

Wearing a white blouse, shirt, hat, gloves, jewelry, or scarf can represent spiritual love, purity, reverence, and humility. It can also connote faithfulness, a valuable component in any love relationship.

Red and white both have distinct individual meanings, but when used together, they often symbolize unity.

Since red and white are Valentine’s Day colors, it makes sense that their union, the color pink, would also represent Valentine’s Day.

Where red symbolizes passion, and white symbolizes purity, the two colors combine to yield a playful, soft, and sweet version of love.

PINK is a color of love and affection. It has a gentler and more tranquilizing effect than red, and is associated more with innocent love.

Pink has a playful quality, one that contrasts red’s deep power, and white’s ethereal elegance. It has a youthful and joyous feel, and is often associated with childhood and young love.

Just like other colors, there are many shades of pink. Darker pink represents a more intense feeling of gratitude and a mysterious sense of attraction.

When you wear lighter shades of pink on Valentine's Day, it expresses love, grace, and appreciation.

Pink colors are associated with femininity, romance, calmness, and tenderness.

Bright shades of pink take on the power of red. They can become soothing with the addition of white.

Pale and light pink colors provide the most calming effects, whereas the brighter pink shades have the opposite effect and are more stimulating.

A specific shade of pink can affect us on a cellular level, and often is influenced by past experiences. Do you associate certain shades of pink with past situations or people?

Light pink colors like baby pink or pale pink are often viewed as soft, healing, and calming, while hot pink or fuchsia might be viewed as bold, exciting, or even alarming. 💗

When choosing your Valentine’s Day outfit, think about getting away from boring black and come alive with your best version of red, white, and pink for romance and/or friendship!

 

Have you given any thought to what you’re going to wear for Valentine’s Day? Perhaps my post has inspired you to plan ahead.

 

I’ve decided to wear a comfy, yet cute flannel pajama set that has pink hearts on it.

 

My husband and I usually don't go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day. Restaurants are crowded, noisy, and they jack up prices for this special occasion.

 

We prefer to cozy up and make a special dinner for two. This is a fun way to celebrate love.

 

Before you go, don’t forget to comment below. When you insert your comment in the space provided and hit publish, you’ll be all set. Just don’t put links in your comment as it won’t be published that way. Thanks for understanding.

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