Black Beans with Chili Spiced Squash and Orange

I want to apologize now for killing network television.

Growing up, I’d always heard of the Nielsen ratings.  There were apparently lucky families that were chosen to share what they watched with the Nielsen company, who then used this information to decide which shows would return next season and which shows got the axe.  Such power!

Brady Bunch? Renewed!!!! Partridge Family? Yes, please! The Ropers? No thank  you, bye bye. I could have saved so many shows!!!!!! (most likely ones that no one but me wanted to watch, but still…..)

So when I got a letter from the Nielsen company this week saying that we had been chosen and they would follow up with a call…I didn’t even open it.

Nielsen Ratings?  Was that still even a thing?  Hadn’t they been pushed out by Rotten Tomatoes?  Definitely a scam.

Turns out it was not a scam.

The other night, they actually called to ask me a few questions (not my mother’s maiden name or my Social).

“I don’t really watch that much TV,” I explained to the guy.  “Maybe you should be calling someone else.”

“No, no,” he replied. “That doesn’t matter.  What station are you watching right now?” (He could totally hear the TV in the background since we keep the volume at an extremely high level in case there is someone in Europe who wants to listen in.)

“Cozi.”

“What-ze?” he asked.

“Cozi TV,” I told him

“What do they play?”  he wanted to know.

“Well, right now, we are watching Frasier, and before that 3rd Rock From the Sun.”

Dead silence.  This is where I’m pretty sure he wishes he had listened to me at the start of the conversation and called another number.

“Do you watch anything else?” he finally asked. “Like the networks?”

“Uh, mostly we stream or disagree over how many hours HGTV or the Travel Channel are allowed to be on, but during the pandemic, we pretty much finished Netflix, Apple TV and Disney, so…..Cozi TV it is.”

“How about radio? Do you listen to radio?” the foolish man ventured down what he hoped was a safer road.

“I do,” I informed him. ‘I listen to the Broadway Channel.”

“Okay, so thanks for participating, and we will be sending. you a gift certificate for a free coffee.”

And that is how I killed network television.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups acorn squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch squares
• 1  1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon chili powder
• 1 can black beans, drained, rinsed and dried
• 1/4 cup sliced green onion
• 1 orange, peeled, slices separated and diced
• 1-2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
• pumpkin seeds for topping (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Toss the squash with the oil, syrup, garlic powder, zest and salt.  Place on a baking sheet and bake 15-20 minutes until squash is tender but not mushy.  Stir halfway through. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
3. Meanwhile, combine the beans, green onions, oranges and cilantro in a medium bowl.  Add the squash when cooled and toss it in.  Refrigerate till ready to serve, then top with  seeds if using.

Enjoy!