The talented actor and comedian Kimee Balmilero joins us in the Cooking Hawaiian Style kitchen to share her comforting Spinach and Squash Casserole. Best known for her roles on Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., Kimee brings the same warmth and energy to the kitchen as she does to the screen. This cheesy, veggie-packed dish blends fresh spinach, butternut squash, and a crunchy Ritz cracker topping into the perfect family-style bake.
If you enjoyed Kimee’s creation, you’ll also love her twist on local comfort food — check out her Portuguese Bean Soup recipe for another island favorite.
For more inspiration on how to make the most of butternut squash, explore this helpful guide on cooking with winter squash.
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Spinach and Squash Casserole by Kimee Balmilero
The talented actor and comedian Kimee Balmilero joins us in the kitchen. If her name sounds familiar she has been involved in the Improv comedy scene for years and also a star on Hawaii 5-0 and more recently Magnum P.I. I love Kimee’s energy and positive out look on things and of course her acting abilities on one of the most popular shows in America. She is a graduate of Castle High School in Kaneohe where theatre and the arts played a significant role in her upbringing. She was part of Miss Saigon and also part of the cast of Mama Mia in New York City. Her resume is deep and her future is even brighter.
Ingredients
- 1 medium sized butternut squash
- 1 14 oz container of plain cottage cheese
- 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers crumbled in small chunks…not dust
- 1 bag of fresh spinach stems removed
- Bottle of Fines Herbes you will need “6capsfull”
- 2 large fresh tomatoes sliced
- 1 bag of Italian cheese mix shredded
- 1 bag of sharp cheddar cheese mix shredded
- to taste Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Peel and slice butternut squash.
- In a microwave safe bowl, soften sliced squash in the microwave for about 15 minutes (You can also steam or saute the squash to soften).
- In the meantime, add the cottage cheese, crackers and fines herbes into a mixing bowl.
- In a baking pan, layer your ingredients: Squash Cottage cheese Mix Spinach Cottage cheese mix Spinach Cottage cheese mix Shredded cheese mix Sliced tomatoes
- Bake uncovered for 40 minutes or until cheese starts to brown.
- Rest for 10-15 minutes.
How To Serve:
- Serves 6–8.
Nutrition
Calories: 481kcalCarbohydrates: 113gProtein: 19gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 297mgPotassium: 5091mgFiber: 26gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 109406IUVitamin B1: 1mgVitamin B5: 4mgVitamin C: 287mgCalcium: 692mgIron: 14mg
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