Mystery Squash Results

A couple posts back I showed you a mystery squash that we purchased for $3.

You can see that post here.

Here's the picture of it.

It's huge!

After some input from you kind folks,

we figured it was a cushaw - or close.

Upon research (because that's just what I do) I learned that the cushaw is referred to as the sweet potato pumpkin.

That concerned me just a little 
as I'm not fond of either sweet potatoes or pumpkin.

This evening, I finally decided to break into that big boy.

The shell / rind is tough as nails.

Just getting the neck portion cut off was a workout.

The meat however is tender.

The fragrance smelled like watermelon to me which actually worried me a little.

I was preparing myself for something ultra sweet.

The first small batch, I had sliced about 3/8" thick and dipped in milk 
then shredded Parmesan.

I fried those in some of our home rendered bear lard.

Man oh man!  It was delicious!

The second batch, I didn't even bother with the milk or cheese.

Just a sprinkling of salt and we gobbled them up.

It does have a slight sweet potato flavor but not the overwhelming flavor 
of regular sweet potatoes.

It is/was almost like a cross between a potato and sweet potato.

We will probably be eating on this cushaw for about two weeks!

The next thing I did was clean out the "belly."

The seeds are even huge - and a ton of them.

I am saving some to try to grow, but I will roast the rest of them.

As much food as we are getting from this one squash,

I can't believe I've never heard of them.

Also, I can't believe they are not more widely promoted as 
a cost effective way to eat or feed a family.

They store easily though from what I've read 
not as long as some other winter squashes.
These store up to 4 months.

So far, the only thing that is a bit of a deterrent 
is how difficult it is to break into.

I am making arrangements to get a couple more.

So all of this from someone who's not a squash fan.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am with the discovery of this mystery squash.

And healthy to boot!