Butternut Squash and Carrot Mash

I made this Sunday night so I would have something to supplement quick and easy meals for the rest of the week.  The Mash has little seasoning added so that I can give it a different twist each time I heat a bowlful up. 

Prep Time: 15 mins (prebaking) + 15 mins (postbaking)  Oven Temp: 375 F   Bake Time: 30-40 Mins

Ingredients
2 Small Butternut Squash (about 6 inches long each. You could use one large squash but I find that it’s easier to peel smaller ones because their sides have less curvature)
5-6 Large Carrots
2-3 tablespoons Coconut oil (or butter or olive oil if you don’t have coconut oil)
Pinch of Kosher Salt and Black Pepper

1. Peel the butternut squashes. Cut off the hard stems from the top and bottom.  Cut in half and remove seeds and pulp.
2. Chop squash in ½ inch pieces.
3. Peel Carrots and chop into pieces, roughly the same size as the squash.
5. Add squash and carrots to a parchment lined baking dish. Toss with one tablespoon melted coconut oil, salt and pepper.
6. Bake for 30- 40 mins, stirring twice to make sure vegetables bake evenly.
7. In 3 batches, puree roasted vegetables in a food processor.  Each batch should be pureed with ½ tablespoon coconut oil. Oil does not need to be melted because it should melt when pureed with the hot vegetables.
8.  Place in a Tupperware and store in fridge for quick meals or side dishes throughout the week.

Meal Ideas

Host Mom Recipe
My host mom in Buenos Aires used to make a variation of this mash for dinner. She topped the mash as follows
(Amount suitable for a single serving, double if serving two people)
1 bowl  2/3’s full of mash
1- 2 tablespoons grated cheese (any kind, depends on what you prefer. I used Havarti and gruyere)
1 tablespoon  Sour Cream
¼ cup chopped baked ham (small cooked hams can be purchased at the grocery store)

Sprinkle cheese over mash.  Mircowave for 1 minute. Add chopped ham and cook for an additional minute.  Top with tablespoon sour cream and a sprinkle of salt (optional).

Side Dishes
I enjoyed this mash alongside my lunch salad.  I topped it with a little bit of garlic salt and pepper.
You can also enjoy the mash as a sweet side if you add a little bit of brown sugar and cinnamon before microwaving it.