Anti-Inflammatory Squash Parcels

My children love helping make this dish – they choose their own little squash and stuff them to the max – it’s become a little competitive to see who can stuff the squashes with the most filling – we load these little beauties with grass fed minced beef, lots of onions, garlic, fennel, apricots, pine nuts and lots and lots of turmeric.

Ingredients

• 4 medium squash

• 500 g minced beef

• 1 large onion

• 3 cloves garlic - grated

• 1 large fennel (finely chopped)

• 12 dried apricots (chopped)

• 1/2 cup pine nuts

• 1 tbsp turmeric powder

• 1 tbsp coconut oil or ghee or lard

• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions

1. Heat the over to 160 degrees Celsius (320 Fahrenheit)

2. Slice the heads off the squashes (keeping them as lids) and scoop out the seeds

3. Season each squash cavity with salt and pepper

4. In a frying pan, heat ½ a tablespoon of your oil

5. Fry the onions and garlic until translucent

6. Add the fennel and fry for 5 minutes

7. Add the turmeric and give it a good mix

8. Add the minced beef, season with salt and pepper and cook until the meat has taken some colour

9. Add the chopped apricots and pine nuts and cook for a couple of minutes

10. Fill each squash as tightly as you can and place the lids on top

11. Melt the rest of the oil and drizzle over the squashes, and sprinkle with salt and pepper

12. Place in the oven for 45 minutes or until the squashes are soft and tender

13. Serve hot on its own or with a large green salad or medley of steamed broccoli and green beans – or any other seasonal vegetable

The science bit

This is a fantastic anti-inflammatory dish, loaded with turmeric, and possesses tremendous antimicrobial properties with heaps of garlic, and anti histamine properties with plenty of onions and fennel.

SQUASH contains oodles of antioxidants, vitamins A and C as well as plenty of B vitamins.

PINE NUTS are a fantastic source of healthy fats, iron and a great source of magnesium, essential for energy, digestion of fats, protein and carbohydrate and a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin (our feel good neurotransmitter) and melatonin (our sleep hormone).

DRIED APRICOTS are a great source of potassium and iron and a wonderful source of soluble fibre.

GRASS FED BEEF is loaded with iron, B vitamins, especially vitamins B12 and B6 essential for the nervous system. This is a true Super Hero dish.