Elevate your Thanksgiving feast with Colorado squash

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Each month, the Colorado Department of Agriculture features a different product to highlight the variety and quality of products grown, raised or processed in the state.

Winter squash is a tasty and beautiful side dish for your Thanksgiving feast. Choose a medium to large squash that is firm with no exterior soft spots. Acorn squash is sodium free and a good source of vitamin C. Look for Colorado winter squash at your local grocery store or on the menu at restaurants across the state.

Glazed Squash

Recipe courtesy Colorado Department of Agriculture and Chef Jason K. Morse, C.E.C.

2 acorn squash

2 teaspoons herb seasoning

1 teaspoon black ground pepper

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup maple syrup

pumpkin pie spice to taste

2 tablespoons vanilla paste

Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds. Drizzle each half with oil and season with salt, pepper and herb seasoning. Place upside down onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

Roast in oven at 400 degrees for approximately 35-45 minutes or until soft to the touch. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely, then carefully cut each squash half into quarters. Place on cookie sheet, squash side up.

In a bowl, combine maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla paste and brown sugar and mix well. Glaze squash quarters with syrup mixture and roast in oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until hot and glazed. Remove, adjust seasoning as needed with salt and pepper and serve.

Visit www.coloradoagriculture.com for a complete list of recipes.

Colorado Master Gardener program

The Extension office is accepting applications for the Colorado Master Gardener classes that will start Jan. 25 and run every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Applications can be picked up at the Extension office and are due by Dec. 22. Late applications will not be accepted. Please contact the Extension office for more information or come by to pick up an application.

Archuleta County 4-H food drive

Archuleta County 4-H clubs are hosting a food drive during the months of November and December. Members are encouraged to bring items to their club meetings, where leaders will keep a running total of items collected.

The club that collects the most items earns points to our Club of the Year contest. If you would like to help out the clubs, contact a 4-H member that you know and have them pick up the items from you to bring to their next club meeting.

CPR and first aid classes

CPR and first aid certification classes are offered monthly by the CSU Extension office on the second Monday and Wednesday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m. Anyone needing to receive or renew certification can register by calling the Extension office at 264-5931.

We will also attempt to schedule classes on additional dates with five or more registrations.

Cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid and $55 for CPR, first aid or recertification. The type of first aid information provided will vary by the needs of the audience.

More information

Colorado State University Extension is your local university community connection for research-based information about natural resource management; living well through raising kids, eating right and spending smart; gardening and commercial horticulture; the latest agricultural production technologies and community development. Extension 4-H and youth development programs reach more than 100,000 young people annually.