Pomegranate-Glazed Butternut Squash
This year, the ritual allowed for spontaniety– just as Tal predicted it would!I poured Sadaf pomegranate syrup over the already-cubed butternut squash from Trader Joes or Costco , sprinkled it with salt, pepper and olive oil, and roasted it until crispy. That's a keeper.
Ingredients
- 1 pound butternut squash, cubed in 1/2 inch cubes
- 1/4 c. pomegranate syrup (not juice)
- olive oil
- salt and fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Cover a large, flat baking sheet with tin foil.
- Mix all ingredients on the sheet.
- Coat the squash well with the syrup and oil, then spread to separate most of the pieces.
- Roast for 20 minutes, stir, then roast for about 20 more, until the edges and sides are well-crisped.
Notes
People are sometimes resistant to the idea of introducing rituals because they believe that ritualistic behavior may detract from spontaneity or creativity–especially when it comes to interpersonal rituals such as a regular date with one's spouse, or artistic rituals such as painting. However, if we do not ritualize activities– whether working out in the gym, spending time with our family, or reading for pleasure–we often don't get to them, and rather than being spontaneous, we become reactive (to others' demands on our time and energy). In an overall structured, ritualized life, we certainly don't need to have each hour of the day accounted for and can thus leave time for spontaneous behavior; more importantly, we can integrate spontaneity into a ritual, as, for example, deciding spontaneously where we go on the ritualized date. The most creative individuals–whether artists, businesspeople, or parents– have rituals that they follow. Paradoxically, the routine frees them up to be creative and spontaneous.What is fall cooking if not a ritual? Moving inside, pulling out the big pots, preparing the foods you remember from the year before, and the year before that? This year, the ritual allowed for spontaniety– just as Tal predicted it would! I poured Sadaf pomegranate syrup over the already-cubed butternut squash from Trader Joes or Costco , sprinkled it with salt, pepper and olive oil, and roasted it until crispy. That's a keeper.
