Italian Stuffed Acorn Squash-Crock Pot

Sharon123's Note:

Delicious squash combined with nutty rice and tangy goat cheese is a healthy delight, providing a hefty dose of fiber, vitamins A and C, and a little calcium. Serve whole or cut into wedges. This is from Delicious Living magazine, which I get from my health food store. Any good winter squash can be used.

• Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 1 large acorn squash , halved and seeded
• olive oil
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup wild rice
• ¼ cup rawpumpkin seeds (I have used sunflower seeds too) or ¼ cup pine nuts (I have used sunflower seeds too)
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1⁄3; teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• ¼ cup crumbledgoat cheese or ¼ cup feta cheese

Directions:

1. Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds.
2. Brush squash halves with olive oil and place in slow cooker (slice off bottoms to level, if necessary).
3. Pour 1 cup water into the cooker, around (not into) squash.
4. In a small bowl, combine wild rice blend, pumpkin seeds or pine nuts, minced garlic, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and spices; stir until well-mixed.
5. Stuff rice mixture into each squash half.
6. Slowly pour about 1/2 cup vegetable broth into each squash cavity until full (don't let stuffing overflow).
7. Pour any remaining broth around squash.
8. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
9. Just prior to serving, sprinkle with crumbled cheese.
10. Enjoy!

Reviews

[CongoGirl]

I have to agree with others who thought this was bland. I really did not like it at all. The rice was dry (although I did baste it, as others suggested) and had a somewhat unpleasant flavor. I also apparently don't like acorn squash (no fault of the recipe), so I won't be trying it again.

[Dreamer in Ontario]

I really liked the wild rice stuffing in this dish. I needed to cook it for 4 hours on high for the rice to be done. Unfortunately, however, the squash was overdone for my taste. I agree with previous reviewers that this would be good with butternut squash. I think that the addition of a sweet element such as raisins might be good, too. I'm going to try that with some leftovers tonight. Made for Kittencalskitchen Crock Pot and Rice Cooker Game.

[Sandy in California]

So, we really didn't like this much, although I was pretty distracted when making it at Thanksgiving and didn't really make it to directions, so I am not rating this lower since part of it may have been my fault. But the flavors just didn't work for me and the rice ended up very crisp.