Gem Squash

[Debs]

Hi everyone...

I got some of these given to me for easter....

they look and taste pretty much just like pumpkin.....If anyone can find them....grab some and cook them up...

They are OMGOSH amazing and Cohens plan friendly...but check your plan just in case they're not on there!!

They are about the same size as a cricket ball and when you cut them in half they look like a mini pumpkin...

You have to weigh them cooked....but to cook them you just steam them in the microwave and voila...

You have a nice new taste sensation...

[Cheral]

Does anyone know where these can be bought in Perth. I have spoken to a friend in South Africa and it seems they are farily common over there, but I havent seen them in the supermarket here. I wonder if they are very different in taste to the yellow button type squash?

[Debs]

Cheral...

You're in luck! I'm in Perth and I know exactly where to get them from!!*LOL*

The place that i know is called the Fruit Basket...it's in Brentwood...right near the Booragoon clinic.... They also have Provitas at the IGA next door...

I'm well versed with the SOuth African foods *LOL* My husband and his family are from Zimbabwe

Pm me if you need to

[Cheral]

Brilliant thank sDebs - I live in Bullcreek and know the Brentwood shops well. Will get some in the morning

Thanks again

[hexi2]

Weird I am pretty sure that my plan says no gem squash allowed...but will double check when at home

[hexi2]

Whoops I just checked it and YES Gem Squash is allowed...now where to find me some in Central Australia

[ConnieK..]

hexi

go here and they will send it to you LOL

http://www.thesouthafricanshop.com.au/shop/index.php

mine was dispatched today

Connie

[hexi2]

and guess what they have sold out!

[Butterfly_girl]

Hehe! The South African gem squash farmers must be loving this! Fame at last FYI all, they're also really easy to grow! Just take out the seeds before you boil / steam your squash, let them dry out a bit and plant them (or get the kids to do it as a project!). They grow pretty much like a pumpkin plant - but they're great. I'm growing my own over here, and also love eating the 'baby' squashes - before the skins harden and they're still really soft and really small!

[hexi2]

Here is a link to getting the seeds - I am still searching for gem squash online and available...

http://www.organicsaustraliaonline.c...egory179_4.htm

[hexi2]

Ok the only other online supplier looks like this website

http://www.satooz.com/

however it looks like they have sold out too...

hmmm now I am hanging out to get my hands on some

[hexi2]

Well I have just rung them (Satooz) and they tell me that there has been too much rain therefore there are no gem squashes available from the farmer they use. She said they were informed that 'after Easter' sometime - so she will ring the farmer and update the website as soon as they have some more...

[ConnieK..]

help,

I have my Gem squash now, but do I take the seeds out or eat the seeds?

Connie

[hexi2]

Take them out according to Deb - maybe send her a pm about what you can do with them or get some ideas here...there is also a whole heap about what they are, origins etc

http://vegbox-recipes.co.uk/ingredie...sh.php#recipes

http://cooksister.typepad.com/cook_s...d_gem_squ.html

Deb has also posted a gem squash soup in the recipe thread...maybe we should start up a thread over there after we (once I got my hands on them) try different ways to cook with them

Hi there all you "gem squash ignorant"ladies !!

Ha, for once us S. Africans can teach you Ausie girls something !!!! The simplest Cohen friendly way will be to half them ( be carefull as the skin can be very hard) , boil or micro until soft, scoop out the seeds ( discard them ) and then scoop out the flesh and enjoy. As per my plan, weigh after cooked and scooped and this is my staple veg in the evening. Some steak grilled with balsamic and my portion of gem squash, cannot be any easier.

In non-Cohen land, we serve it in the skin, with some butter and a bit of sugar and if we are feeling very fancy, put some creamed corn in the centre and give a little grill. yummie!!!!!!!!!!
As kids, we always used the empty shell to hide the veggies that we did not want to eat ...............

Good luck
Annie

[bitten]

i adore all types of squash/pumpkin....but i do not know if we have something similar to gem or hubbard squash here in the US.

i have been having the spag. squash.

the only others are butternut or acorn, and i assume they are a no-no, as they are far to delish.

any ideas?

bitten

[meagain]

You can also get them at Limes in Melville Cheral.

[Use the fancy soap!]

I got a couple of gem squash from the vege stall on Albany hwy Kelmscott
But I ate my skin it was hard and crunchy
Is the skin poisonous or just awful?

[Butterfly_girl]

Don't think the skin is poisonous... but OMG that must have been vile!! Sorry! We actually used to cook the gem squash skins up for our dogs (when I was a kid)... if memory serves they loved them and didn't get sick or anything!

To cook a decent gem, just cut them in half, scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon and boil the squashes up until you can easily stick a fork into the flesh. (My mother always boiled them with the seeds in, but it just makes sense to me to take them out first!) Then the flesh scoops quite easily out of the skins and onto the scale. Try them again, they really are fab!

[asy]

OK all you Brisbane Cohenites...

I found these in my local veggie shop!!!

It's the "Rock and Roll Veggie shop" on Logan Road at Stones Corner. (Incidentally, the butcher next door is REALLY good, too).

This shop is NOT the cheapest, but it's the only place I've ever seen Gem Squash. I think I paid about $4.95/kg I only bought one to see if I like it.

Enjoy.

asy.