Healthy Treats | Long Island Cheese Squash Blondies!

Hola foodie friends!

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I can see there have been many changes taking place around here during the past few weeks! Wow! Steemit has a new owner, new communities added and we have another (soft) hard fork! I have been away enoying time with family but now I definitely have some catching up to do.

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The Bird nest has been hopping with so much activity; I have much to share with you! @mountainjewel visited and brought amazing gifts from their homestead. We spent time exploring new spots and of course food has been plentiful.

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Speaking of food…

check out this Long Island Cheese Squash! Did you know this winter squash was cultivated by the Wampanoag Indians in New England? Grown since the 1800’s, Long Island Cheese Squash is thought to be one of the oldest edible squash varieties. They’re often pale in color, flat and round and look similar to a wheel of cheese! Hence the name! The squash @mountainjewel brought easily weighed 10 lbs.! They were able to purchase these heirloom seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. with great success this season.

photo thanks to Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co.

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After a wonderful side of squash with dinner we still had quite a bit of squash left over. You know me; I had my sights on a great dessert! Knowing they would be traveling all day a healthy snack would be welcomed! Covered with parchment and well-sealed we baked the squash for about an hour, testing with a knife make sure it was just right!

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The house smelled delicious…

and the squash was oh so tender, like butter! I love making desserts using vegetables! Just another way to incorporate more vegetables into your family meal planning.

Low Carb, Grain and Gluten free ingredients!

• Almond flour (1 ½ cup)
• Baking Powder (1 tsp)
• Pumpkin Spice (1 tsp)
• Xanthan gum (1/2 tsp)
• Vanilla (1 tsp)
• Coconut Oil (1/3 cup)
• Maple Syrup (1/3 cup)
• Flax Egg (qty 1)
• Long Island Cheese Squash Pulp (1/2 cup)
• Dark Chocolate Chips (3 tbsp.)
• Walnuts (1/3 cup)

Simple to assemble…

Dry ingredients first followed by the wet!

Squash next!

At this point the family began to circle the kitchen chirping “What are you making mom????" Hmmmmm..hadn't we just finished dinner?

Oh and of course….the chocolate and walnuts!

Into the oven…

at 350 degrees for 30-33 minutes. Allowing them cool was tough, it was all I could do to keep the flock hungry chocolate loving birds out of the kitchen!

Perhaps just a tiny bite, right?

Needless to say…

I still had more squash! No worries, measured in 1 cup portions it’s now safely tucked away in the freezer.

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Need a quick pie, loaf of sweet bread, soup or perhaps a smoothie? There are so many options, squash is quite the flexible veggie. I would love to hear about your favorite recipe! Thanks for stopping by!

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And as always, blessings to you all!

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