Holiday Food: Stripper’s Squash Dressing

“Strippers Squash Dressing” was gifted to me by an exotic dancer, the husband of my daughter’s best friend. A good recipe never dies. It is passed from generation to generation. My thanks go out to the giver for a superb squash recipe, which had been in his family for generations.

Of course, I named it Stripper’s Squash Dressing, as I have a passion of naming things! Also, several readers have commented that they enjoy my little recipes, which come with stories.

Vegetable cookery is perhaps the most misunderstood of all culinary creations. In “Let’s Eat at Home”, Julie Benell’s cookbook, she commented, “Vegetables are the stepchildren of creative cooking.”

Interesting Fact: Squash contains all eight amino acids that our body does not produce.

If you’re sick and tired of serving the same old tired, limp vegetable dishes, try Strippers Squash Dressing at your next holiday get-together, sit back and listen to the rave reviews. It’s that good!

How to Select Winter Squash

1. Winter squash is available from October through February.

2. Select deep yellow-orange color, heavy squash. The deeper the color, the more beta-carotene. (Try your local Farmer’s Market.)

3. Store covered in the refrigerator to retain quality.

4. Prepare ASAP following purchase.

5. Cook unpeeled to retain nutrients.

6. Try to eat immediately after cooking. Vegetables (like chewing gum on the bedpost) lose their flavor when exposed to air.

Holiday Food: Stripper’s Squash Dressing

Ingredients: 2 pounds winter squash

¼ cup water

1 6-oz package cornbread mix (prepare according to package)

2 cups milk

½ cup chopped celery (which I omit because I can’t abide this deplorable vegetable)

½ cup chopped onion

2 tablespoons butter or margarine (I buy Smart Balance, good for us with Olive Oil)

1-10 oz can cream of chicken soup

Season as desired. (I use seasoning pepper & garlic salt.)

Preparation: Cook squash in small amount of water until tender.

Drain & mash.

Crumble corn bread in milk.

Sauté onion & celery in butter or margarine.

Mix all ingredients and bake for about 1-hour until mixture is firm.

Enjoy Stripper’s Squash Dressing and embellish the story as you see fit!