Wild rice & apple stuffed acorn squash

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup (60 mL) wild rice, rinsed*
• 2 small acorn squash, halved and cored
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) plus 2 tsp (10 mL) canola oil
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) finely chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 large red apple, unpeeled and diced
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) fresh thyme

Instructions

1. In glass or metal bowl, cover wild rice with 1 cup (500 mL) boiling water. Let sit covered for 1 hour until kernels pop, and then drain water.
2. Preheat oven to 400⁰F (200⁰C).
3. Brush inside of each squash half with 1/2 tsp (2 mL) canola oil.
4. Place squash, flat side down, on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes or until squash is tender.
5. Five minutes before squash finish cooking, prepare stuffing. In nonstick skillet, sauté onion, garlic and celery in remaining canola oil over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes. Add apple; cook for 2 minutes. Add rice and thyme; mix well.
6. Remove squash from oven and stuff with wild rice blend. Serve.

Notes

*For convenience, use leftover rice or canned wild rice and omit the 1st step.

Have left overs for lunch the next day!

Recipe courtesy of canolainfo.org, featured in the Canadian Diabetes Association’s 2014 Healthy Living Calendar