LCBO Food and Drink Holiday 2016

BASICS  SEASON OF SqUASH

SPICED SQUASH SALAD

1 acorn squash, about 1 lb (500 g) ½ butternut squash or 1 small one ½ kabocha squash, about 1 lb (500 g) 3 tbsp (45 mL) olive oil Salt and freshly ground pepper RADICCHIO 1 small head of radicchio 1 tsp (5 mL) olive oil 3 tbsp (45 mL) finely chopped green onion 1 Whisk together oil, lemon juice, honey, cumin, ginger and cinnamon. Add a pinch of

Use up to 4 different squashes for a texture and taste extravaganza. I like this salad served at room temperature. Some squash do not need to be peeled; others do. I like to leave the skin on butternut, acorn and delicata squash but peel kabocha and buttercup. It is a personal preference. Just make sure you give the skin a good rinse before baking. The combination of the slight bitterness of the radicchio and the sweetness of the squash is a real flavour gold mine. This is also a good side dish with

be tinged with gold. Remove frombaking sheet to a plate and season again if needed. Squash should all be combined. 4 Cut each radicchio leaf in half through the centre stem. Heat a skillet, preferably non- stick, over high heat and add olive oil. Stir in radicchio leaves and toss until hot but still crisp. Place a large spoonful of mixed squash on a plate and garnish with radicchio leaves. 5 Drizzle vinaigrette over everything. Scatter with green onions. Serves 4

chicken or fish. VINAIGRETTE ½ cup (125 mL) olive oil 2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice 1 tsp (5 ml) honey ½ tsp (2 mL) ground cumin ½ tsp (2 mL) ground ginger

chile de arbol or cayenne. Reserve. 2 Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

WHAT TO SERVE Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc LCBO 308288, $19.15 Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay LCBO 399543, $25.15

3 Peel squash if you don’t want to leave skin on. Remove and discard seeds. Cut into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces. Toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 25 to 30 min- utes, stirring the squash around occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly. The squash should

½ tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon Pinch chile de arbol or cayenne SQUASH 1 delicata squash, about 1 lb (500 g)

68  FOOD & DRI NK HOLIDAY 2016