What's up with gourds?
by Oct 5th, 2010 // Just for Fun
What's up with gourds?
There’s nothing that says fall like a pile of gourds. I can’t get enough of the brilliant colors, curvy shapes both smooth and nubby. I buy them by the armful and artfully arrange them all over the house.
But this year my kid asked me what they are for. As in, can you make or do anything with them other than decorate? Um, I don’t know, can you?
CHEESE STUFFED CHAYOTE
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Slice 2 ripe chayotes in half lengthwise, remove the seed and steam for 15 minutes or microwave for 6 minutes on high.
Meanwhile, saute:
1 small onion, diced
2 green onions, diced
1 clove garlic, minced and
2 tablespoons finely diced green pepper until soft.
Add 1 tablespoon chopped parsley and 1 pinch nutmeg.
Scoop out each half of chayote, leaving a 1/4-inch shell. In a medium-size bowl, mash the pulp with a fork and add the sautéed onion mixture. Stuff the chayote shells with layers of the mashed pulp and some of
1 cup total grated sharp cheddar cheese.
Sprinkle the tops withbread crumbs (4 tablespoons total), grated Parmesan cheese and a dab of butter.
Bake until the tops are golden and the cheese melted, about 15 minutes
Makes 4 servings.
Weird, I was always told they were poisonous! Maybe that was an urban legend or old wives' tale?
Which one is the Chayote?
It's a green one but I'm not sure if it's pictured in your lovely bounty of gourds. Some sources say it's a gourd and some sources say it's a squash (is there a difference? unclear).
Gourds are poisonous!!! Look at the picture here of a Chayote and make sure it is one before eating it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chayote
What I do with gourds is make maracas. You need a dry not humid area, but if you put two pin or nail holes in the bottom the air gets and over time drys the inside. The seeds dry too and that is what makes the sound. If you paint them with a clear coat you keep the nice color. If not the color fads but they still make the noise.
They're nature's pottery. When they dry they have a wood like texture and can be used as drinking/eating vessels.
Hi, Cooking With My Kid! We used gourds to create homemade stamps, cards, wrapping paper and gift tags. It is a really fun creative play activity for kids (and adults)!
http://www.creativeplayplus.com/2010/11/09/stampi…
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