Golden Butternut Squash Tart Food

UPSIDE-DOWN BUTTERNUT SQUASH TART

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Put the puff pastry on a cutting board, put an inverted 10-inch nonstick ovenproof skillet on top and cut the pastry with a knife. Transfer the pastry round to a parchment-lined baking sheet and poke all over with a fork. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Put the sugar in the bottom of the 10-inch skillet. Heat over medium heat, shaking the skillet frequently, until the sugar is a dark caramel color, about 5 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, separate the necks and bulbs of the squash using a sharp knife. Reserve the bulbs for another use. Cut the stems off the necks and peel the necks with a peeler. Using a mandoline, slice the squash as thinly as possible while keeping them as whole circles.
• Start to arrange 1 layer of overlapping squash slices over the bottom of the skillet in concentric circles. Sprinkle with half the thyme, half the sage and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Lay down another layer of squash and top with the remaining thyme and sage and another 1/2 teaspoon salt. Top with any remaining squash and place the puff pastry round on top.
• Transfer the skillet to a baking sheet and bake until the pastry is golden brown, about 45 minutes. Let cool for 3 minutes in the skillet and invert onto a plate. Top with freshly grated Parmesan.

GOLDEN BUTTERNUT SQUASH TART

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick square; transfer to a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Trim to 1/2 in. above edge of dish; flute edges. Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450° for 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the onions, garlic, salt and pepper in oil over low heat for 25-30 minutes or until onions are golden brown, stirring frequently. Add cream and thyme. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 2-4 minutes or until thickened. Cool slightly., Pour into crust. Top with apple slices. In a small bowl, combine squash and egg; spread over top., Cover and bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Uncover; arrange cheese in a lattice pattern over the top. Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until apple is tender. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

GOLDEN BUTTERNUT SQUASH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large nonstick skillet, sauté onion in 2 T butter over med-high heat until soft, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add the cumin and cook for another minute.
• Using a rubber spatula, scrape the contents of the skillet into a 12 inch baking dish.
• Sprinkle the onions with the thyme and brown sugar.
• Wash off the butternut squash, then cut it open and remove the seeds.
• Cut into manageable chunks and peel with a vegetable peeler.
• Cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes.
• Melt the remaining butter in the same skillet.
• Divide the squash cubes in half and brown them in the butter, turning occasionally.
• Sprinkle the squash with salt and pepper.
• Scrape the cubes and any remaining butter into the baking dish with the onion mixture.
• Pour the cream over the top and bake, uncovered, for 60 minutes, or until squash is meltingly tender.
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH, ONION, TOMATO AND FETA TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place squash, onion, brown sugar and olive oil in roasting pan. Toss lightly to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Roast until golden brown and tender. Turn ingredients with a spatula every 5 minutes to evenly brown.
• In a large bowl, combine roasted squash with sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, feta, pine nuts and vinegar. Set aside. Beat egg with milk.
• Cut 1 sheet of puff pastry in half, length-wise. Cut the remaining sheet into ½-inch strips. Place strips around the perimeter of the 2 pastry shell halves to make a border. Overlap the corners so the walls don't fall down. Brush both tart shells with egg/milk mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 6 minutes on greased cookie sheet. Remove and divide filling among shells evenly. Place tarts back in oven. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake until golden brown or about 6 minutes. Serves 4-6, or 8 as an appetizer.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CARAMELIZED ONION TART

Steps:

• Using a prepared pie crust or your favorite crust recipe. On a lightly floured surface roll out dough into a 12-inch round (about 1/8 inch thick).
• Fit dough into an 11-inch tart pan with a removable fluted rim.
• Freeze shell 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights or raw rice.
• Bake shell in middle of oven until edge is pale golden, about 20 minutes.
• Carefully remove foil and weights or rice and bake shell 10 minutes more, or until bottom is golden.
• Leave oven on.
• Cool shell in pan on a rack.
• Halve squash and scoop out seeds.
• Lightly brush each cut side with about 1 teaspoon oil and on a baking sheet roast squash, cut sides down, in middle of oven 40 minutes, or until soft.
• While squash is roasting, thinly slice onion and in a heavy skillet cook in 1/2 tablespoon butter and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Cool squash and scoop out flesh.
• In a food processor purée squash.
• Add whole egg, egg yolk, and cream and blend well.
• Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in cheeses, herbs, onion, salt, and pepper to taste.
• Pour filling into shell, smoothing top.
• In a small skillet melt remaining tablespoon butter and stir in bread crumbs until combined well.
• Sprinkle bread crumb mixture evenly over filling.
• Bake tart in middle of oven 40 minutes, or until filling is set.
• Cool tart in pan on rack 10 minutes and carefully remove rim.