Photo courtesy of Morton's Market.

The wonders contained within the walls of our own Morton's Market have been extolled many times over by locals and snowbirds alike, from the extensive prepared hot and cold bars, small-batch condiments and hand-baked pastries. And yet, we must take a moment to appreciate an unassuming dish found behind the glass that often goes unnoticed by the untrained eye. Not always on the day's menu, the roasted butternut squash salad often gets snatched up by people in-the-know early in the day, before the after-work shoppers make their rounds. Diced cubes of tender butternut squash are roasted to gooey, melt-in-your-mouth buttery-ness with just a hint of olive oil. The heads of dark green sautéed spinach and dried cranberries pop out from among the golden vegetable, adding elements of bitter and saccharine sweetness to the naturally mild squash. Heat up for a quick light lunch, top off some olive oil-coated pasta or use as a cold dip for crusty bread. The moral of the story: when you see it—don't hesitate!

Photo courtesy of Morton's Market.

Morton's Gourmet Market, 1924 South Osprey Ave., Sarasota, 941-955-9856.