Stuffed Squash with Fruit and Vegetable Quinoa Pilaf - A Zest for Life

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds squash, acorn or blue hubbard
• ½ cup multi colored quinoa, rinsed well
• 1 cup filtered water
• ⅛ teaspoon tumeric
• 3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 cup baby portobello mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
• ½ cup shallots, peeled and chopped, or onions
• 1 tablespoon garlic, peeled & minced
• ¾ cup red apple, seeded and chopped, 3/4" dice
• 1 cup dinosaur kale, heavy ribs removed, sliced thinly (about 1/2 bunch)
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ⅛ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
• ½ of a lemon - rind, finely grated
• ¼ cup fresh cranberries, see recipe - roasted*, or dried unsweetened cranberries
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, cleaned, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, cleaned, sliced thinly