For years I've been fighting Winter squash, swinging a Chinese cleaver and risking fingers. The other day a light finally dawned. Where is it written that Winter squash have to be split raw? I plunked some Winter squash into the steamer and let them steam for a half hour. At the end of that time a simple carving knife slashed right through them and the seeds were easy to scoop out. You can scoop out the pulp and mix with butter and/or your favorite seasonings and bake them in a caserole dish, or if you are a purist you can still bake the halves in the oven.

I don't know why it took so long for this simple idea to sink in.