Lunch: Spiced Butternut Squash Sorbet

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health benefits of Spiced Butternut Squash Sorbet

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

One 2-pound butternut squash
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup water
One 2-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
One 3-inch cinnamon stick
8 peppercorns
5 whole cloves
1/2 nutmeg, finely grated
3/4 cup apple cider
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 °. Cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out and discard the seeds, and place on a baking sheet, cut-side down. Pour about 1 cup water around the squash and bake until the squash is tender when pierced with a knife, about 45 minutes. (Check the water halfway through baking; if it has evaporated, add some more.) Remove the squash from the oven and set aside to cool. Once the squash is cool, scoop out the flesh and put in a blender.
Meanwhile, combine the sugar and 2/3 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring gently with a wooden spoon, until most of the sugar is dissolved. Brush down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush and bring to a simmer. Add the ginger, cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves and nutmeg. Cover and simmer gently for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool, uncovered.
Pour the cooled syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into the blender. Discard the spices. Add the cider and maple syrup and blend until smooth.
Freeze the mixture in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's directions, then transfer to an airtight container and put in the freezer to harden, at least 3 hours.