Giving to Others - The Ultimate Soul Food

There is something about the smell of dinner baking in the oven on a cool, fall evening that brings comfort and genuine warmth to our kitchen. Weather it is a pot of spaghetti simmering or a plump squash roasting in the oven, coming in the door to the scent of garlic, herbs and dinner prepared with love gives a family a reminder of their connection and the gifts in their lives. Having food on the table and never going to bed hungry is truly a gift. I know this is not something every family is blessed with and I feel it is our calling to give thanks for all we have and to give to others who need help.

This week, Totally Townies solutes the St. George Pantry, which is located on West Main Street in downtown Brighton in the basement of . The St. George Pantry is open twice a month on the second and fourth Saturdays, with the only requirement for using the service being the need for food. On an average Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon,  2,400 pounds of food are provided for nearly 100 families. Gleaners Food Bank provides bread and eggs to the pantry and OLSHA donates 500 pounds of food per month. Simple Fresh Market has agreed to supply the pantry with much needed fresh produce, and each week bushels of squash, watermelons, seasonal fruits and veggies are brought in by truck. Since the pantry opened in March, the number of Brighton and Whitmore Lake families fed each Saturday has increased by 190%.

In honor of the individuals who give their time, energy and resources to help those in need within our community, we’re featuring a simple squash recipe that encourages parents to cook with their children – having fun at home together sets the foundation for a bond that will last a lifetime. Cooking together is a labor of love. When a child and parent learn together, a moment in time is forever captured within their souls. Just as a child learns from her parent, a parent learns through her child. When we give our children the chance to experience whimsy in their homes, we’re giving them the chance to flourish. To flourish as a family is one of life’s ultimate treasures and one that cannot be purchased or saved for a later date – it must be savored and experienced in the present.

Teaching a child to cook requires patience and an unhurried approach. Below is one of our favorite squash recipes that couldn’t get much easier. Squash is high in vitamins and low on cost – the average squash at the Brighton Farmers’ Market rings in at $1.00 this month. With the arrival of cooler temperatures in October, the season of squash has found us with our mouths watering, our bellies growling, and our grocery dollars stretched just a little further.

Super Simple Squash

 Ingredients:

• 1 Thoroughly washed squash, fully intact with skin on – your choice – butternut or spaghetti squash work best with this recipe
• A good amount of butter (approximately ½ stick…but we’re not fussy enough to measure)
• A healthy pinch of salt to taste
• Optional spices include fresh herbs such as basil or thyme, or garlic

Bake the squash for 60 to 90 minutes on 350 degrees, uncovered with stem and skin on in your favorite baking dish. The squash is done when you can place a butter knife through the center and feel no resistance. Your kitchen will smell heavenly – giving you a Better Crocker-esque pride that certainly can boost a weary spirit. Remove the baking dish from the oven and with a fork or knife, remove the skin from the squash. This will be easy at this point and the skin will almost fall off with some gentle encouragement. The squash will be extremely hot and you may opt to allow it to cool for several hours before removing the skin. This is especially a good option if you have little helpers along with you on your squash adventure. Once the skin has been removed, and the squash is comfortable to handle, scoop out the seeds and dump all of the remaining squash into a serving bowl, add butter, salt and some good clean hands for mixing. Children love different textures – squash may be something your fingers have never had the privileged of squishing. Go ahead, make a little mess.

From our home to yours, we hope you enjoy this bit of kid-friendly kitchen inspiration. Let our homes and hearts be places of cheer and welcome for those we love and those we meet. Let us be grateful for the harvest of the season and for the gift of living simply. Fall is a time when the harvest is abundant and rich – let us give to those we see who are in need, and seek to find those we have not yet met.