Butternut Squash Cooking Class

Our first cooking class was a hit!

Usually when you see a squash in autumn, it is used as tasteful decoration. However, we decided that we would try something different and tackle a recipe that would render it edible and very delicious. Thanks to our friend Natalie from the Bennett Center*, we learned how to transform a typical butternut squash from ordinary gourd to fantastic soup.

The class was held in a classroom at the Bennett Center, which is conveniently attached to a small kitchen. Each person received a personal chef hat and apron and settled down to some apple cider and pre-made soup. While the attendees enjoyed the food, Natalie gave a live demonstration of how to cook the recipe from scratch. Sue Forsythe (Director of Student Health Services) also provided us with an impressive variety of homemade bread**, which made a wholesome addition to the meal. To finish off the grand autumnal feast, Grace provided us with Turkish delights. Everyone ate to their heart's content and were even able to pack up leftovers!

Tonight's class was a great opportunity to learn a very simple but nutritious meal, made with not much more than a few ingredients and a crock pot. We see it as a mere step in the journey to connect people to the food that they eat, as well as connecting different community members together through this common cause. Our class could not have been possible without the collaborative effort of the different community members involved; thank you to Natalie and Sue for making this event an unforgettable (and delicious) one! And thank you to all the students that came and shared their interest with us. We could not be more grateful.

If you are a community member that would like to contribute an idea/skill/space to the garden, please contact us! We would love for you to get involved.

*Natalie is Assistant Director of Campus Recreation here at Gordon College

**five, to be exact!!