The Secret to Perfectly Crispy Butternut Squash Fries, 3 Easy Steps

There are a few easy steps to creating PERFECTLY crispy butternut squash fries! (You can also do these same steps for crispy sweet potatoe fries!) No one likes limp french fries. Here's the trick...

>>>> SLICE, BAKE then BROIL! <<<

I can't believe that last spring was my first time cooking butternut squash! It is so delicious and has become a staple in our diet. We love to cook it on the stove top with garlic, bake it in the oven then mash it up, make soup out of it, and slice it thin and make fries. Yum! This is our no fail recipe for perfect butternut squash fries, nice and crispy. I like to eat them with salsa, Grant likes to eat them with BBQ sauce and of course you can always use ketchup. Hope you get a chance to try it out this fall! They're delicious and squash is in season, so it's usually pretty cheap!

PREP TIME: 7minutes (slice, dice, toss!) COOK TIME: 25-30minutes BAKE + 5-7 min BROIL

INGREDIENTS 2 butternut squash 2 Tb. olive oil salt to garnish

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, then put your squash in the microwave for 45sec--1min to soften the skin, making it easier to peel. Cut the ends off the squash and peel the skin off. I recommend this peeler. It has saved me so much time! Slice the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Then slice the rest up to resemble fries/wedges. For perfect technique check out this 48sec. Martha Stewart video on how to cut butternut squash.

2. Toss your fries with olive oil, add salt and lay out on a baking sheet.

3. Bake fries for 25-30minutes to cook the squash. Then turn your oven off and put the broiler on HIGH. Broil fries for 5-7minutes watching closely.This makes them nice and crispy! When they're as crispy as you like, pull them out. That's it, you're done! :) I don't bother flipping mine halfway through. Sometimes one side is more done than the other, but it doesn't make a difference at all. They are so good!!!

You can also sprinkle garlic salt on your fries or even cinnamon for a little sweetness.

I think I've improved a Martha Stewart recipe! I know, that's a big deal! :) I added the coconut cream to this recipe, a dash of orange juice and changed some of the spices. Cumin has a really strong taste, so I only add 1/4 tsp. The original recipe needed just a bit more flavor and the coconut cream gave it that extra richness. Yum.

INGREDIENTS Those listed above + 1/2 cup orange juice 1 can of coconut cream 4 cups water (or broth)

****I had a can of coconut cream in my fridge b/c I was planning on making coconut whip cream with it. I recommend chilling the can of coconut cream, so that the cream and the water separate. Then pour the water out of the can, so that only the cream itself is added. It's a delicious addition!! *****

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1: Melt little coconut oil (or butter, or oil) in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion until soft then add your spices: ginger, garlic, cumin & cayenne.

STEP 2: Next add your squash; cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is soft, 6 to 8 minutes.

STEP 3: Now add your apples and water (or vegetable broth, your choice). Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer everything, stirring occasionally until squash is fully cooked, 20-25 minutes and your apples are nice and soft. Add a splash of orange juice at this point (about 1/2 a cup)

STEP 3: If you have a stick blender you can use it to smooth out the consistency of the soup. (That's what I did.) I didn't blend it entirely as I wanted the apples to be highlighted and not completely mixed in. If you don't have a stick blender set half the soup aside to cool and blend it in a normal blender then add it back to the rest of the batch. You could also just leave the soup thick and chunky without blending it. Whichever you prefer. Finally, stir in a can of coconut cream! I drained the coconut water out of mine and just added the chilled cream. YUM.

Enjoy with cracked pepper or cinnamon!

Doesn't soup warm up your insides? It's my favorite during these chilled months. It hasn't been that cold actually, 80 degrees here! Haha :) But it's the idea of fall that makes me want to sit by the fire and be bundled up with a bowl of soup. It will get cold soon enough! :)

P.S. A few more delicious fall recipes: frittata pizza and crispy butternut squash fries!