Company's Coming Stuffed Winter Squash

Ingredients

• 4 small delicata squash or butternut squash or banana squash or acorn squash or buttercup squash (about 4-inch diameter)
• 2 cups brown basmati rice
• 1 cup wild rice
• 6 cups water
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 pinch cayenne
• 2 large yellow onions, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped (1 cup)
• 1 cup currant or raisins
• 1 cup apple, diced
• 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped or 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
• 3 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped or 1 tablespoon dried sage
• 1 1/2 cups pecans
• 2 tablespoons tamari
• 2 tablespoons umeboshi vinegar or use rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• sea salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• parsley (to garnish)

Directions

1. 1

   . Wash squash and trim ends. Cut squash crosswise into halves and scoop seeds out. Set aside.

2. 2

   Rinse basmati and wild rice in a strainer under cold running water. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large saucepan; add rice and cook 5 minutes. Add water to rice and bring to a boil. Reduce flame and cook covered 40 minutes or until water is absorbed and steam holes form in rice.

3. 3

   Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. Add cumin, paprika, thyme, oregano and cayenne and sauté for two minutes. Add onions, garlic, celery, peppers and parsley. Cook 20 minutes. Stir in raisins, apples, fresh rosemary and sage. Cook 10 minutes more.

4. 4

   Preheat oven to 375°F . Spread pecans on a baking sheet. Place baking sheet in oven and roast pecans 8 to 10 minutes until theybegin to release their aroma. Be careful not to burn them. Remove pecans from the oven and combine them with the cooked rice,vegetables, tamari, umeboshi and balsamic vinegar in a large mixing bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5. 5

   Stuff rice mixture firmly into squash halves. Place squash in a roasting pan with 1/2 cup water. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes or until squash is easily pierced with a fork. To serve, slice squash into 1-inch rings and garnish with Italian parsley.

6. 6

   Note: Any leftover stuffing can be baked for 30 minutes at 375°F in a lightly oiled, covered 2-quart casserole.