How to Make Roasted Winter Squash with Garlic

Winter squash is a heathly food full of variety. Why don't you eat more of it? Is it because you always spice it the same way, with butter and brown sugar and cinnamon? Or one of those recipes with orange juice? The poor vegetable can't figure out whether it's dinner or dessert. Stop treating it that way and treat it with respect. Add some garlic.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Winter squash
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Flour
• Salt and pepper

1. Pick a squash that looks easy to peel. Butternut is the easiest since it's smooth. Acorn, with its deep ridges, is not the best for this recipe. Most other types are somewhere in between.

2. Peel your squash. Scoop out the seeds and gunk.

3. Cut your squash into small cubes. A little smaller than computer keyboard keys is about right.

4. Chop the garlic fine. Use as much as you think you can stand, to taste. Roasting mellows the flavor of garlic, so don't worry. Be brave.

5. Toss the squash with flour until it's very lightly coated. Toss again with the garlic and salt and pepper.

6. Grease a ceramic or glass baking dish generously with olive oil. Put the squash in the dish.

7. Bake the squash in a 400-degree oven until it's very soft. The time will vary depending on the type of squash and the type of baking dish, but you should allow at least 45 minutes.

8. Serve as a side dish with anything that doesn't mind being upstaged by its side dishes.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're nervous about cooking without exact measurements, don't be afraid of this recipe. You want to use enough flour so that you see a fine powder on the squash, and enough garlic that you can see little pieces scattered all over. Nothing bad will happen.