JONES FIELDS

THE BUTTERNUT BENEFIT
 

No offense to zucchini, but the health benefits of fall-harvest squashes far eclipse their summer cousins. Like all members of the gourd family (which includes pumpkin, melon, and cucumber), butternut squash is technically a fruit because it contains seeds. Cut into its pale, yellow-beige hard skin, though, and you'll discover a vibrant flesh that's much denser than that of its relatives. Rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants -- and succulent enough to warrant the moniker "butternut" -- this graceful, hourglass-like gourd is the perfect addition to an any meal.