Squash Gratin, Southern Style

By Gosh, this is Squash Nosh.

Many of you lot know yesteryear at in i lawsuit that oft my ramblings are to a greater extent than than nigh the next recipe. Many times it is of the history of southern cuisine, peculiarly relating to my upbringing as well as our way of cookery. On occasion it is nigh the root of a recipe, how it got into our kitchens, our way of life as well as why nosotros adore it equally nosotros do. Most oft my thoughts are nigh the nutrient nosotros eat, why nosotros bask it as well as what makes it hence expert equally good equally the technique inwards properly preparing it, southern style. And on occasion, similar today, my rambling is way off into some other area; similar the root of a give-and-take nosotros occupation inwards cooking.

Squash is a racquet sport played yesteryear 2 or iv players, was get-go played 1830 as well as was formerly called squash racquets, a reference to the "squashable" soft ball used inwards play. Also inwards sports, the term squelch is used inwards an professional person wrestling equally a extremely one-sided match. Of course, the give-and-take also way to manually suppress or quash something to a pulp; to emotional or psychological disconcert amongst pressure level equally amongst a crushing retort; as well as it also way squeezing something into a pocket-sized space. It's originated inwards linguistic communication around 1555.

winter

Now for most of us, relating to food, squelch way alone i thing: Good eating. From the American Narragansett linguistic communication (1635) as well as Massachusetts Algonquian describe of piece of work solid unit of measurement (1643), the give-and-take squelch is the eatable fruit from whatever of diverse vine-like, tendril-bearing plants belonging to the genus Curcurbita of the gourd family. Known inwards beingness from the pre-Columbian Era, nosotros many times assort the vegetable squelch equally winter or summer when inwards fact, those damage are given for its usage, non when it is genuinely inwards the markets. Summer squelch is available inwards the wintertime as well as likewise, wintertime butternut is a featured special at our local grocer this week, inwards June. You see, the terminology was given dorsum when seasonal crops produced a to a greater extent than crucial time-frame for growing. Tender squelch similar our patty-pan, xanthous crookneck as well as zucchini were planted, weather condition permitted, as well as the fruit was harvested for consumption earlier spoilage. What was non readily eaten was "put up" or canned for the wintertime months. Squash that became known equally "the expert keepers" were called winter squash due to the longevity inwards storage. Gathered inwards the autumn as well as pose away until the wintertime months, these squelch were stored inwards basements or mutual frigidity rooms.

summer

Squash has some other important inwards the nutrient as well as imbibe category. It is a concentrated syrup inwards many flavors that is unremarkably fruit based as well as may locomote combined amongst an alcoholic drinkable for cocktails. But for the recipe today, the Definition of the English linguistic communication give-and-take squash goes dorsum to the Native Narragansett Indian "askutasquash" which way "a greenish affair eaten raw" or uncooked. Happily, nosotros bask the xanthous ones too.

Enjoy!

Squash Gratin

about vi serving

4 xanthous summertime squash, thinly sliced
1 zucchini, thinly sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
1/2 sweetness onion (vidalia), chopped
1/4 loving cup finely chopped apartment leafage parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
iii tablespoons olive oil
1 finely chopped jalapeno
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 loving cup grated farmers cheese or your favorite

In a large bowl, toss the squelch amongst the salt; allow sit down 25 minutes, as well as hence rinse good as well as pat completely dry.

In a nutrient processor, add together remaining ingredients except the cheese as well as pulse to chop ingredients.

Fold the mixture amongst the squelch as well as 3/4 loving cup grated cheese. Arrange evenly inwards a 2-quart casserole or baking dish. Top amongst remaining cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees F, 35 to twoscore minutes.