Simple Ideas for Winter Squash

The Carnival squash is a medium-sized variety, looking very similar in shape to an acorn squash. The Carnival squash has very slightly stringy flesh, with a mild yet sweet flavor, along the lines of a sweet potato. It can be used in either a savory or sweet recipe.

One of the most common winter squash, the acorn is a great candidate for baking, roasting and stuffing. This squash's flavor is on the sweet side, with somewhat stringy flesh. A simple and tasty way to prepare this squash is to halve it and roast it with a pat of butter and a little brown sugar or maple syrup in the cavity.

Also known as delicata or bohemian squash, the Sweet Potato squash is a medium-sized variety of winter squash. It has a smooth, creamy texture and a taste that is sweet, like sweet corn or sweet potatoes. It's not necessary to peel the Sweet Potato squash; its skin is tender and edible.

One of the mildest tasting squashes, Spaghetti Squash is great for all sorts of applications. When cooked, the flesh becomes stringy, which also makes it a low-carb substitute for spaghetti.

Another variety of winter squash, Buttercup squash is very versatile. Almost any way you want to prepare this squash will work just fine, from sautéing, to baking, simmering, steaming, pureeing -- the list goes on. Buttercup squash is sweeter than most winter squashes and has a smooth, creamy texture that makes it a good substitute for sweet potatoes.

Butternut squash could easily be the most popular winter squash of all the varieties, and with good reason. It has a fine texture which is a little more watery than most winter squash, and is sweet and nutty. It is very versatile and can be used in either sweet or savory recipes. Butternut squash soup is a great way to serve this squash.