Delicata Squash Salad
I love, love love delicata squash. In my opinion, it is one of the most underappreciated winter squashes out there. The flavor is sweet, texture is smooth and the skin is so tender that you don’t have to peel these babies.
This salad is one of my latest favorites. it is light, fresh and easy to pull together. Crunchy. Sweet. Savory. Full Bodied. All ways you could describe this salad and me.
I’ll be making this for the family this year when I go back to Ohio for Christmas along with a few other little numbers.
Ingredients
1/4 cup tahini paste
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups plain yogurt
1 delicata squash, seeded and sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 cups arugula
1/4 cup pomegranate arils
1/4 cup salted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1/4 cup chopped mint
Directions
Make the tahini yogurt by combining the tahini paste, yogurt and olive oil in a food processor.
In a large bowl, toss the squash, olive oil, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Spread evenly on a cookie sheet and roast 20 minutes at 425. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
On a platter, spread the tahini yogurt evenly over the surface and top with the arugula.
Toss the squash with half of the herbs and pile over the yogurt. Top with pomegranate arils and pumpkin seeds. Garnish with the remaining herbs and finish with some flaky sea salt.
How to Make a Wreath
Wreaths are one of my favorite things to make during the holidays. Granted, I am a bit of a nut when it comes to decorating for the holiday season. Fresh wreaths and garlands not only add festive touches to your home but make the room smell absolutely wonderful! I was reminded of the source of my love of all things evergreen while back in Ohio this fall. Growing up, my mom would have piles and piles of fresh pine in the courtyard at her shop. Though she has since sold her business, the piles in the courtyard remain. My sister, Lindsay, opened her own store in the same space as our mom’s and now teaches workshops along with 18 other artists at The Collective.
Decorating this time of year calls for pulling out all your best tricks. For Anthony and me, that means wreaths, garlands, centerpieces and pine arrangements galore. Every room gets something, and the result is a festive and aromatic home.
Despite what you might think, making a gorgeous evergreen wreath is not difficult. All you need is some fresh material, floral wire, and a little patience.
The first step in making your home a holiday wonderland is to find some fresh greens, fortunately, this time of year they are in almost every store on the block. You won’t have to go far to find fresh greens, but it is my recommendation that you start with a local garden center or flower shop. The greens you will likely find there are going to be fresher, higher quality and in many cases, locally sourced. I like to work with two or three different types of greens to really get as much texture and contrast as I can. In the photos below, I am working with balsam fir and white pine, two common and easily sourced types of evergreen. Other options include Carolina Sapphire, cedar, boxwood, magnolia leaves and more.
When it comes to making wreaths, you have a couple of options. You will need to select a base for your wreath and while either option will give you a great foundation, the real difference is in how difficult they are to work with. Your two options for a wreath base are a grapevine wreath or a wireframe.
Grapevine wreaths are exactly what they sound like; dried grapevines that are coiled, tied and dried. They are a dependable and sturdy base that I find the easiest to work with. To make a wreath with a grapevine base, simply shove the greens wherever you want them and voila! You have a wreath.
Metal frames, on the other hand, are a little more cost-effective. Most garden centers and flower shops us simple metal hoop wreaths because they are cheaper, giving them a better margin on their sale.
This year, Anthony and I made one of each. He really likes asymmetrical wreaths whereas I prefer a fuller and more uniform look. Let’s start with the grapevine wreath.
Grapevine Wreaths
Start by hanging your wreath on a door, wall or some other vertical space where you can work. Wreaths always look different hanging than they do when they are hung so I always work vertically.
Next, cut your greens down to 6 – 8-inch segments and make piles of each type of green you use.
Now you’re ready to start building your wreath. Start with one green type of green and work your way around the circumference of the wreath until you have base layer down. Simply stick the woody ends of the greens into the tightly wound base and work in a circular motion. Next, add your white pine, working in the same circular pattern as before. Keep going in this fashion until you’re satisfied with your piece.
As mentioned, I love grapevines for their ease of use and versatility. You can make a wreath as full or thin as you wish, and it will more than likely look great. I made a wreath with balsam, white pine and silver-dollar eucalyptus that turned out beautifully thanks to the differing textures and scale of the foliage.
Metal Frames
For a metal frame, start by cutting your greens into pieces that are all about 6 – 8 inches in length.
Next, make small bundles of greens, usually 3 or 4 stems per bundle, and tightly wire them together at the base. These bundles will be wired onto the metal frame when you start to assemble the wreath so it is important to make all your bundles ahead of time.
Once you’ve bundled all your greens, it is time to start assembling. Take your first bundle and with a paddle of floral wire, tightly wire it onto the frame by going around the entire thing a few times. Now, ad your second bundle and without cutting your wire, wrap it around the whole frame again. Continue this method until you’ve completely covered the frame and then cut the wire, affixing it to the frame at the end.
No matter what avenue you choose, I hope your wreaths turn out to be beautiful. Don’t sweat about making the “perfect” wreath, even pros get frustrated at times. The important part of this project is to simply enjoy yourself and the company you’re with. It is the holiday season after all so spread some cheer, make a wreath and adore it no matter what!