Celebrate your child's love of learning

© Wondertime

Contains neither butter nor nuts. Discuss.

One sunny day my 4-year-old looked up and saw a squirrel running along a telephone wire. "Look, Mommy," she said. "It's got something orange in its mouth. It could be an orange. Or maybe it's squash." Then she declared, "I want to eat squash."

Naturally I was surprised by this turn of events, but when a preschooler has spontaneous produce cravings, it's best to just go with it. I should send that squirrel a thank-you nut.

Recipes

• Pasta with Butternut Squash and Sage Brown Butter
• Butternut Squash Pie

Mash It Up
What to squash into your (baked) squash:

• Dried sage with half-and-half or light cream
• Maple syrup
• Parmesan cheese
• Roasted garlic
• Cooked apples
• Caramelized onions

Fun Fact
Squash blossoms are edible. (They taste faintly like the fruit itself.)