Mama’s Recipe Box: Super Size Butternut Fries

By Sarah Matheny on September 23rd, 2009

I’m probably the last person you’d find at McDonald’s. In fact, I attended a convention over the weekend where, were it not for my daughter’s Christian-based preschool and the fact that I may very well forget that I was wearing the new object of my affection during carpooling, I would have purchased a certain t-shirt that said, “McS*%t.”

Problem is, I get cravings for certain things like milkshakes and French fries. Only now, my milkshakes are made with frozen fruit and soy or almond milk and my fries are made with butternut squash.

Yup, that strange, overgrown peanut-lookalike gourd is perfect for making the most dunkable, nutritious fries you may ever find. One cup of butternut squash has no fat and only 82 calories, along with lots of vitamin C and A, and nothing can McBeat that.

SuperSize Butternut Squash Fries

1 medium sized butternut squash
cooking spray
salt (or other desired seasoning)

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray generously with cooking spray. Set aside.

Cut your butternut squash in half lengthwise with a very sharp knife. Remove ends. Using a vegetable peeler, remove skin. Scoop out seeds with a large spoon, and then cut squash into fry-like shapes. Place fries on baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Sprinkle fries with salt or any other desired seasoning (cinnamon and sugar, curry, cajun seasoning, etc.). Bake for 40 minutes and flip once during cooking to ensure even crisping. Enjoy with ketchup and go ahead and SuperSize your serving, just because you can!

(Image Courtesy of Michael Martin at pbase.com)