Butternut Squash Casserole

My friends and family have been enjoying some delicious butternut squash from our Lancaster Farm Fresh CSA shares for the past few weeks and have been experimenting with a lot of new recipes. Below I've posted one that I hope to try this evening from the "Meatless Monday!" section of the Ezra Pound Cake Blog (http://www.ezrapoundcake.com/), adapted from The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook. How have you been preparing your winter squash? Email us your recipe suggestions at csa@lancasterfarmfresh.com!

Butternut Squash Casserole
Ingredients
3½ pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut in ¼-inch-thick slices (about 6 cups)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 large yellow onions, trimmed, peeled and chopped (about 3 cups)
1 cup whole or low-fat buttermilk
2 large eggs, beaten
2½ teaspoons minced fresh thyme
½ cup bread crumbs, toasted
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup pumpkin seeds or pecans, toasted
2 cups coarsely grated cheddar cheese (about 6 ounces)
4 to 6 large handfuls of fresh spinach, washed and stemmed (add to the same water as the squash in step 2 during the last minute of boiling), optional

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 9-x-13-inch baking dish or 4-quart casserole.
2. Place 3 quarts water in a large stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the squash to the water, return to a boil, and cook for 6 minutes. The squash will turn a deeper orange. Drain it and set aside.
3. Melt the butter in the stockpot and add the oil. Add the onions and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent and limp, about 8 minutes, stirring to prevent browning. Add the warm squash and the buttermilk, eggs, thyme, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, ⅛ cup pumpkin seeds and 1⅓ cups cheese. Blend with a wooden spoon or spatula until the ingredients are well combined.
4. Spread the mixture evenly in the baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining ⅛ cup pumpkin seeds and ⅔ cup cheese. Bake 15 minutes more. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Not-So-Meatless Sausage Squash Casserole Variation: Follow the recipe above (minus the spinach), but use 2½ pounds squash and 1 pound hot Italian sausage, cut on the bias into ½-inch-thick pieces and seared in a 12-inch skillet over high heat until golden brown. Add the sausage to the squash mixture in step 3 and complete the recipe as above.