Stuffed Butternut Squash

I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but once in a while it's nice to make a dish sans meat for anyone who is a vegetarian! And butternut squash is such a fall food, feels right to use it as a bowl :) Plus, it's an easy dish to add some shredded chicken or turkey bacon too if you want some extra protein in your meal.

Makes: 4 stuffed squashes      Total time: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS

• 2 small-medium sized butternut squash
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup sweet peppers, chopped
• 1 cup corn
• 1 cup plum tomatoes, chopped
• 1 avocado, cubed
• 3/4 cup cheddar cheese
• 2 cups brown rice, cooked
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and cut the squash in half the long way and scoop out the seeds. Place the squash skin side down on a baking sheet lined with tin foil and bake for 30-40 minutes, until soft.  Once the squash is cooked, scoop out the center, leaving one centimeter of squash around the edges. 

Step 2: While the squash is baking, add the olive oil to a pan over medium heat along with the black beans and sweet peppers. Cook for 4 minutes.

Step 3: Add in the corn, tomatoes, salt and cumin and cook for another 2 minutes, then remove from heat and mix in the rice and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar until it begins to melt.

Step 4: Scoop 1/4 of the mixture into each of the butternut squashes and top with the remaining cheese. Place back in the oven for 5 minutes until the cheese melts.

Step 5: Before serving, top with the cubed avocado and cilantro.