Acorn Squash and Pear Pie
- 2 cups pastry flour (or 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour mixed with 1 1/4 cups cake flour)
- 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
- 2 acorn squash (3 pounds)
- 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 pounds Bosc pears
- 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- In a food processor, combine 1 cup of the flour, the butter, egg, and sugar.
- Pulse 10 to 15 times, or until the mixture is a fairly smooth paste.
- Add the remaining 1 cup flour and pulse until the dough comes together.
- Do not overwork.
- Form the dough into a ball, flatten into a disk, wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- On a lightly floured sheet of parchment paper, roll out the dough into a 13-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick.
- Transfer the dough to a 10 1/2-inch deep-dish pie plate and fit it against the bottom and sides without stretching.
- Trim the overhanging dough to 1/2 inch, fold it under and crimp decoratively.
- Using a fork, prick the bottom and sides of the pie shell all over.
- Freeze the pie shell until firm, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400.
- Bake the pie shell for 10 minutes, or until just beginning to turn golden around the edges.
- Transfer to a rack to cool to room temperature.
- Leave the oven on.
- Halve each squash and, using a spoon, scoop out and discard the seeds.
- Place the squash, cut sides up, in a large baking dish.
- Pour 1/2 inch of water into the dish.
- Place 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of the butter in each squash cavity.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake the squash for 45 minutes, or until it is soft when pricked with a fork.
- Using a spoon, scoop the squash flesh into a food processor, along with any cooking juices.
- Puree until smooth.
- Add the remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar and the ginger and salt.
- Pulse several times to mix.
- Remove the food processor cover and let the puree cool for about 10 minutes.
- Add the eggs 1 at a time, pulsing until incorporated between each addition.
- Using a small sharp knife, peel, quarter and core the pears.
- Slice them lengthwise 1/8 inch thick.
- Arrange the pear slices in the bottom of the cooled pie shell.
- Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top of the pears.
- Pour the squash filling over the pears and smooth the surface with a spatula.
- Bake the pie in the lower part of the oven for 15 minutes.
- Lower the temperature to 350 and bake for 40 to 50 minutes longer, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is just set.
- (The center of the filling will continue to cook after the pie is removed from the oven).
- Transfer to a rack to cool completely before serving.
pastry flour, butter, egg, sugar, acorn, light brown sugar, unsalted butter, ground ginger, salt, eggs, pears, sugar, cinnamon
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/acorn-squash-and-pear-pie (may not work)