Baked Squash with Anjou Pears
Baked squash with fresh picked Anjou pears – a perfect combination to welcome autumn’s arrival.
Winter squash is at it’s peak in markets around the country in late summer and early fall; this is the perfect time of year to incorporate this nutrient rich, delicious vegetable into your menu. It can be incredibly versatile – perfect in sweet pies, savory side dishes, as a hearty salad topping, even used as a bowl for fall soups. We feature the winter squash varietal known as carnival squash in this post, beautifully colored in shades of gold, orange, and green, eye catching with it’s stripes and spots. The meat inside is yellow and sweet, tasting a bit buttery and nutty when cooked. When picking out a winter squash, look for one free of moldy spots, and a hard, not tender skin.
Autumn’s Bounty – Carnival Squash and Anjou Pear
While perusing a local farmer’s market, we picked up fresh Anjou pears too – sweet, with a firmer texture than a Bartlett, which makes them a superior choice for cooking.
Baked Squash with Anjou Pear Recipe
Ingredients
1 carnival squash
3 Tbls butter
3 Tbls brown sugar
1 Anjou pear
Tools
Silpat baking mat (optional, but ideal for easily transferring baked squash wreaths to serving dishes)
Baking pan
Small pitcher to drizzle melted butter
Knife
Hard edged scraper or spatuala to remove squash seeds and distribute brown sugar
Step-by-Step Instructions
Carnival Squash
Remove top and bottom ½ inch from carnival squash. Slice remaining squash horizontally, into 3/4 inch thick slices. Remove seeds with a hard edge scraper. Place on baking sheet; using a Silpat mat is ideal to enable the squash wreaths to lift easily after baking, but you can make this dish without as Silpat too.
Sliced Carnival Squash on Silpat Baking Mat, Seeds Removed with Silicone Scraper Pictured
Slice and remove the core and seeds from the Anjou pear. Chop remaining slices into 1 inch pieces.
Carnival Squash Rounds Filled with Anjou Pear
Fill each carnival squash rounds with chopped pear, and sprinkle with brown sugar.
Brown Sugar Adds a Touch of Sweetness to Anjou Pear Filled Carnival Squash
Drizzle melted butter over the top.
Pour Butter over Squash and Pear Wreaths
Please in oven at 350 degrees, for 40 minutes. Serve!
Ideally, use a wide, flat spatula to transfer the squash wreaths to serving plates.
Carnival Squash and Anjou Pear Wreaths
Contributed by Nicole H., of HIC
The Useful Tool 