November 24, 2009

you look awfully familiar...

Certain dishes are worthy of making and eating again and again, and they certainly shouldn't be reserved only for special occasions.

Sweet fancy Moses.
Squash casserole (or its first cousin, sweet potato casserole) is one of those dishes.
Yes, I made it last Thanksgiving. Yes, I made it several other times throughout the year. Each time it morphed a little bit more, and I must say, it's come a long way. For our shindig at work this Thanksgiving, I made a denser version and enhanced the streusel topping enhanced with coconut and pecans.

So what if my serving consists of 3/4 topping and 1/4 squash?
The very best part. No debate. The end.

Acorn squash was what I had on hand for this, and since it's a good bit more watery than butternut, I added some breadcrumbs into the mix. Heaven forbid I end up with a soupy casserole, am I right? I mean, what if it ruined the topping? We certainly can't have that.

Have a filling and fulfilling Thanksgiving, ya'll!

Tweaked-Over-Time Streuseled Squash Casserole
4 cups acorn squash, peeled, cooked, deseeded, destringed, and mashed
2 eggs, well beaten
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup breadcrumbs

Topping:
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup coconut
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold

Preheat oven to 350F. Combine all the casserole ingredients, beating well. Pour into a lightly greased 2-quart casserole dish.
Combine the dry topping ingredients. Cut in the butter with two knives or a pastry cutter until the mixture becomes crumbly. Sprinkle on top of the squash and bake for 1 hour or until the topping is browned and the center is set.

53 comments:

  1. I say HEAVENLY!
    Happy Thanksgiving to you, Grace.
    Are you able to be with family this year?

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  2. Oh my gosh. Yum dessert casserole! Your coworkers get treated so well. You really do spoil them ;)

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  3. Grace my dear, you are killing em with the yum! This looks so, so good!

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  4. a casserole dish with streusel? girl you rock my blogging world!

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  5. That certainly looks delish and I bet it tastes even better! Have a great holiday!

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  6. OMG, that looks mighty scrumètious! Nice combo!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  7. I can't believe I've never made a squash casserole.

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  8. Happy Thanksgiving! May your gathering be blessed and your squash be bountiful.

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  9. That IS a good lucking topping! :)

    Happy Turkey Day, Grace!
    ~ingrid

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  10. LOL, oops I meant looking, good looking topping! :) That was a freudian slip and hopefully means we're gonna have good luck!
    ~ingrid

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  11. mmm, that looks very delicious... does it fall under side dish or dessert? it looks like a good stick to the ribs dish either way.

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  12. Grace, you are so right about fixing our favorite foods year round. This looks and sounds delicious. Thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes and may you also have a blessed day, too!

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  13. Sounds fabulous. Happy thanksgiving!!

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  14. You can never make a favorite too many times. Looks delicious!

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  15. I've never tried this! Looks and sounds great!

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  16. This is so creative! It actually looks like a fruit crumble (which I am very partial to). And agreed, some foods just cannot be eaten only on special occasions!

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  17. Just found your blog. I love it! I love your Southern touches. I am a Georgia girl.

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  18. I love squash in and of itself, but I'll admit that my favorite reason to eat it is the fantastic topping! Your streusel topping looks amazing...coconut and pecans?! Oh yes!

    Happy Thanksgiving, Grace!

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  19. Happy Thanksgiving, Grace. This sounds great! If zucchini works in cake, this should also!

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  20. This sounds simply delish... Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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  21. This looks soo good! I hope you have a terrific thanksgiving!

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  22. Oh my this looks awesome! I love all the coconut and pecans in the topping....yum!

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  23. oooh i love this!! it's like a modern foodie updated better replacement for candied yams! YUM!!!!

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  24. Oh my gosh. I love squash! This would be my favorite dish at the Thanksgiving table, I guarantee it. You're such a southern gal!

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  25. This is the only way my kids wil eat sweet potatoes.
    Happy Thanksgiving
    Mimi

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  26. Absolutely no contest that topping is a winner. Yum!
    Happy Thanksgiving:)

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  27. Mmm. Love that topping. That would be welcome on my Thanksgiving table!
    Happy Thanksgiving, Grace!

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  28. This is a winner! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Grace!

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  29. The oats and coconut in the topping sound great! Great tip about acorn squash too. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  30. It must be heavenly with the coconut topping. Happy Thanksgiving to you :)

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  31. Amazing. I never thought about doing squash this way. I HAVE TO TRY THIS!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  32. Bookmarked! This looks fantastic Grace and you are totally right - the topping is the best part. Period.

    I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving - see you next week.

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  33. That topping is to die for! What a perfect way to eat squash.

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  34. Grace, Happy TG, sweet friend!

    Wish we could go on a run together, uh, the day AFTER TG when "I'd" need it! :)

    Love, S

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  35. Looks great...my dad would have loved this! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

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  36. Hmmmmmmmm good. Deeeelicious. Not to mention nutritious.

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  37. I have never before tasted squash - this sounds like the perfect way to test it out. Loving your recipes, darling! :)

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  38. Grace this is absolutely fantastic! Love this feast is so nice! but we dont celebrate but I whish you with love to you and allyou celebrate a very HAPPY THANKS GIVING!!!! gloria

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  39. what a great dish! I've never had a squash casserole but this looks so delicious!

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  40. Sold at coconuts and pecans on top - YUM!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  41. That topping sounds superb!! - so good.

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  42. That definitely looks festive, and acorn squash is certainly under-appreciated. Great Thanksgiving dish!

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  43. This would be great to make with leftover sweet potato puree. . . yum- looks delicious!

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  44. OMG! I could live on that topping alone. What a fantastically tweaked dish, printing this out now to make in december. Thank you.

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  45. That topping is to die for! Love it! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  46. I've never made squash casserole with acorn, always butternut, but why not! Acorn squash is so delicious and with this awsome streusel topping I could eat the whole pan- forget the turkey and give me the squash and tators any day!I shall try your version here next time I'm craving squash, (which is often). :)

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  47. I've been following your blog for quite a while and enjoying your wealth of good recipes. When Foodista announced that they are going to publish the best food blogs in a full color book that will be published by Andrews McMeel Publishing Fall 2010, I naturally thought of you. This recipe would be a good submission! You can enter here: http://www.foodista.com/blogbook/submit

    Cheers,
    Melissa

    melissa@foodista.com
    Editor and Community Developer
    Foodista.com -- The Cooking Encyclopedia Everyone Can Edit

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