New England Squash Pie Food

BUTTERNUT SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Combine flour and salt in food processor bowl, and pulse. Remove lid, scatter vegetable shortening and butter over surface, and pulse 5 or 6 times.
• Combine beaten egg and 3 tablespoons ice water. Pulse liquid into dry ingredients, continuing until mixture is evenly moist and dough looks curdy, about 10 seconds. Turn onto work surface, and press firmly into disk, adding drops of water if dough feels dry. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or overnight.
• Roll dough into 15-inch round on lightly floured surface, about 1/8 inch thick, and fit into shallow 9-inch pie pan. Trim and crimp edges, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour. Meanwhile, place large pizza stone on lowest rack in oven, and heat at 425 degrees for 1 hour. (If you don't have a pizza stone, you can go without. It can help prevent a soggy bottom crust.)
• Line chilled pie pan with aluminum foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake on pizza stone for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake until crust dries out and crimped edges begin to color, 3 to 5 minutes. Lower oven heat to 300 degrees.
• While crust bakes, prepare filling: Combine eggs, vanilla, sugars, salt and spices in food processor, and process until smooth. Add squash purée, and process until smooth. With machine running, pour in heavy cream, and process to combine.
• Scrape filling into hot prebaked shell, and bake on pizza stone for 20 minutes. Turn the oven up to 325 degrees and continue baking for another 20 to 25 minutes until filling is set two-thirds of the way in from the perimeter and the center still jiggles, about 40 to 45 minutes total (custard will continue to cook after pie is removed from oven). Tent edges loosely with foil if browning too quickly.
• Meanwhile, prepare the candied squash and ginger relish, if using: Combine squash, lemon peel, lemon juice, sugar and salt in small bowl, and stir well. Macerate 30 minutes. Turn into small saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until tender and liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Add ginger and mix well.
• Remove pie from oven, and cool to room temperature on rack. Garnish with whipped cream and the relish, if desired.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Pierce the squash with a knife in several places, and place in a baking dish in a 350 degree oven.
• Bake until the squash is tender and easily pierced with a knife (about 1 hour) ALLOW TO COOL COMPLETELY.
• Cut the squash in half, and remove the seeds.
• Scoop out about 2 cups of the pulp and place in your blender or food processor.
• Add all remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
• Pour into prepared pie crust.
• Bake 45-50 minutes or until the center is nearly set, and the pie is starting to slightly pull away from the edges of the pan.
• Cool on a wire rack.

SQUASH PIE ~

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven. Bake 20 minutes at 425 df. Then 45 miutes at 375 df. Mix sugar, salt and spices. Blend well into squash. Beat 2 eggs separately, add milk, stir well and blend into squash mixture. Pour into 9" pie plate lined with crust.

PUMPKIN OR SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Cut up the pumpkin or squash, remove seeds, and pare the outside rind. Simmer in a covered saucepan in a small amount of water until tender. Drain water and discard.
• While pumpkin or squash cooks, prepare piecrust.
• Force pumpkin through a sieve or use a food mill. Measure 2 cups puree for each pie. Remainder may be frozen or dried for future use.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Beat eggs and add milk. When blended, add pumpkin, molasses, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and lemon zest, and stir well.
• Roll out piecrust in a 10-inch round circle. Line a 9-inch pie plate, and flute edges as desired.
• Pour into the lined pie plate. Bake for 15 minutes, then turn down the oven to 375 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until set. Cool before serving.
• Measure and set aside 1/4 cup flour and 1 tablespoon butter. Rub the remaining butter into the flour. Stir in cold water with a fork.
• Roll dough out on well-floured board with a floured rolling pin, dot with 1/2 tablespoon reserved butter, and sprinkle 2 teaspoons reserved flour. Roll up the dough like a jelly roll. Flour lightly and roll to a 1/4-inch thickness.
• Repeat the butter and flour addition procedure, using up all butter and flour. Cover with plastic wrap and store in a cool place until needed.

WINTER SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Line a pie plate with pastry, crimp edge attractively and chill.
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Strain the cooked squash and set aside to cool.
• Add sugar, salt and spices; mix thoroughly.
• Beat the eggs, add cream and mix with squash.
• Pour into prepared pie pan, place in oven and bake for ten minutes; reduce heat to 350F and bake for 40 minutes longer.

NEW ENGLAND SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• 1. Cook fresh or frozen squash. Put it through a food mill to make it smooth. Put a coffee filter into a sieve and put the squash in it. Let it drain until no liquid comes out.
• 2. Measure 2 cups of squash and add sugar and spices. Mix well. Add the eggs and mix. Using a whisk, blend in the milk. (If you want a richer filling, substitute cream for some of the milk. For the diet conscious, use skim milk.)
• 3. Pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake at 425 for 20 minutes. Then lower the temperature to 375 and continue baking for 45 minutes or until a shape knife inserted into the filling comes out clean.

WINTER SQUASH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cut the squash in half, sprinkle both halves with the salt and sugar, and dot with 2 tablespoons butter. Bake in a casserole for one hour or until tender. Remove from oven and let cool. (Note: The squash can be roasted and scooped from the skin 3 days in advance.)
• Put the flour onto a clean surface or into a large bowl and make a well in the center. To the well, add the salt, the sugar, the butter, and 1 tablespoon cold water (add more if needed). With your fingertips, push the flour and butter together until large clumps form. Scoop the mixture together and with the heel of your hand, push until the dough comes together. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or freeze for up to 2 weeks.
• Dust a clean surface with flour; with the end of a rolling pin, pound the chilled dough into a large disc.
• Roll the dough to fit an 11-inch pie plate: start from the center and roll away from yourself. Transfer the dough to the pie plate and gently press the dough into the plate and chill for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place a large piece of parchment over the dough and weigh it down with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges are golden brown, 15-20 minutes, rotating once. Remove from the oven, pour the beans into a heat-proof pan, and cool the crust. (Note: The crust can be rolled out and pre-baked up to 3 days in advance. After cooling, cover with plastic wrap or foil and store at room temperature.)
• For the filling, remove and discard the seeds from the cooked squash. Scoop the flesh into a large bowl. Add the cream, eggs, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, pinch of salt, lemon zest, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Whisk to combine, leaving the squash chunky.
• Pour the mixture into the pie crust. Bake until the custard is set and golden-brown, 40-50 minutes.
• Let cool and serve with cinnamon-flavored whipped cream.