Just as summer turns into fall, the grocery store product shelves are filled with all different kinds of squash. Acorn, butternut, spaghetti, and some stranger looking shapes I do not know. What I do know is those tough skinned, colorful, shapely veggies are so delightful in the fall. From soups to side dishes to breads, there are many ways to reap the nutritious benefits of these tasty gourds.

Squash recipes are abundant and run from very simple to complex and formal. So whether you are looking for a quick weeknight meal or side dish or a formal accompaniment to your Thanksgiving turkey, you’ll find it here. These are my 5 favorite ways to eat squash.

Apple Filled Acorn Squash Rings with Curry Butter – From Epicurious, this is my oldest favorite squash recipe. It has such a great mix of flavors and the apples really add to the autumn feel of this dish. The hardest part of making this dish is cutting the very tough acorn squash. But the flavor is worth it!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Squash with Dried Cranberries and Dijon Vinaigrette – This delicious recipe from Blogging Over Thyme is a wonderful accompaniment for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Roasting on a metal pan gives the veggies a fabulous caramelized flavor, and the cranberries and Dijon add just the right tanginess -a delicious mix. Double the veggies, double the flavor, and double the health benefits!

Squash Apple Bake – This is a simple dish to put together and works well for an everyday side or a holiday side. I’ve made it both ways, and even my guests who don’t typically like squash are pleasantly surprised by the delicious flavor of this one.

Curry Pumpkin Soup – As much as I love a simple and plain pumpkin soup, this one adds curry and soy sauce that give it a nice savory flavor. If you’re a fan of mushrooms, add them to this recipe and it’s out of this world!

Healthy Pumpkin Bread – This delicious pumpkin bread is made with tons of healthy stuff, so get ready to substitute with stuff like oat flour and coconut oil, but don’t let the healthiness scare you away. Semi-sweet chocolate chips add a healthy sweet flavor and the overall pumpkin bread is as good as any I’ve tasted. Thanks to Chelsea’s Messy Apron and my friend, Kim, for my new fave!