Turkey Sausage-Stuffed Acorn Squash

Name: Turkey Sausage-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 4 medium acorn squash (about 1-1/2 pounds each); 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; 1 pound Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed; 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms; 1 medium apple, peeled and finely chopped; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 2 teaspoons fennel seed; 2 teaspoons caraway seeds; 1/2 teaspoon dried sage leaves; 3 cups fresh baby spinach; 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper; 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, chopped; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 50 min. YIELD: 8 servings.

Finding healthy recipes the family will eat is a challenge. This elegant squash is one we love, and it works with pork or chicken sausage, too. —Melissa Pelkey Hass, Waleska, Georgia

Ingredients

4 medium acorn squash (about 1-1/2 pounds each)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 pound Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium apple, peeled and finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 teaspoons fennel seed
2 teaspoons caraway seeds
1/2 teaspoon dried sage leaves
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, chopped
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Cut squash lengthwise in half; remove and discard seeds. Using a sharp knife, cut a thin slice from bottom of each half to allow them to lie flat. Place squash in a shallow roasting pan, hollow side down; add 1/4 in. of hot water and halved tomatoes. Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage, mushrooms, apple, onion and dried seasonings over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking up sausage into crumbles; drain. Add spinach, thyme, salt and pepper; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Carefully remove squash from roasting pan. Drain cooking liquid, reserving the tomatoes. Return squash to pan, hollow side up.
4. Stir cheese, vinegar and reserved tomatoes into sausage mixture. Spoon into squash halves. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until heated through and squash is easily pierced with a fork.

Nutrition Facts

1 stuffed squash half: 302 calories, 10g fat (5g saturated fat), 43mg cholesterol, 370mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 7g fiber), 15g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch, 2 medium-fat meat.