SOUTHERN SQUASH CASSEROLE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a small, square casserole dish.
• Boil squash and onion in a large pot 15 to 20 minutes until tender.
• Pour the squash and onion into a colander and drain. Press firmly against the mixture until all excess moisture is drained.
• In a medium mixing bowl combine drained squash and onion mixture and stir in butter (while still warm) allowing the butter to melt. Fold in sour cream, garlic salt, black pepper, and 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese (note: reserve the remaining half cup for the topping). Check mixture to see if levels of salt and pepper suit your taste and adjust accordingly.
• Add contents of bowl into the greased casserole dish. Layer with remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese, and top with 3/4 cup saltine or Ritz crackers. Gently sprinkle paprika over top for color.
• Bake 25-30 minutes until topping is lightly golden-brown.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚. On a large sheet tray, combine the squash and onion. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and black pepper. Toss well to combine. Cook for 25 minutes, until the squash is slightly softened and has released its liquid. Drain the mixture through a colander. Press gently with paper towels to soak up any extra moisture. Let cool.  Reduce the oven temperature to 350˚. Place the eggs in a large bowl and whisk. Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, thyme and black pepper and stir together. Gently fold in the squash and onions (they can still be warm when you fold them in, just be sure they're not piping hot!). Transfer the mixture to a lightly-greased three-quart baking dish. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.   In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, cracker pieces and parmesan cheese. Sprinkle in an even layer all over the top of the casserole.  Return to the oven for 25 to 30 minutes more, until the crackers are golden brown and the edges are bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.