Butternut Squash Pie

I really like how sweet and creamy butternut squash are, and am always looking for new ways to use them (and other squashes.)

I made this pie for my family get together for Chanukah and they really liked it! Can be a side, or with whipped cream for a slightly healthier dessert. 

What you will need:

1 crust, store bought or homemade (recipe here)

For the Filling:

2 large eggs

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

½ cup dark brown sugar

¼ tsp sea salt

1 ½ tsp ground ginger

1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cardamom

1 ½ cups roasted squash purée

¾ cup heavy cream

Whipped cream, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Roasted Squash Purée: heat oven to 400°. Slice into 1” sections (or buy pre cut squash to save time), coat with 1 tbsp oil, and place in a single layer on a sheet pan. Bake until tender and beginning to caramelize, about 40 minutes.

Cool slightly, blend with an immersion blender or food processor until smooth.

For Filling:

Preheat the oven to 300°.

Combine eggs, vanilla, sugars, salt and spices in a bowl with an immersion blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. Add squash purée, and blend until smooth. Pour in heavy cream, and blend to combine.

Pour filling into a hot prebaked shell, and bake for 20 minutes. Turn the oven up to 325° and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes until filling is set ⅔ of the way in from the perimeter and the center still jiggles, about 40-45 minutes total (custard will continue to cook after pie is removed from the oven). Tent Pie crust edges loosely with foil if browning too quickly.

Remove pie from oven, and cool to room temperature on rack. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired. 

Enjoy!

Alfredo Sauce

Alfredo is the ultimate comfort meal, especially in the winter! This recipe is so easy to make and can be used multiple ways throughout the week for easy meals!

What you will need: 

1 stick butter

1 cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper

2 cups freshly grated Parmesan

Pasta cooking water, as needed 

Directions:

In a saucepan or skillet, warm the butter and cream. (This week I did not have heavy cream in the fridge, so substituted for whole milk and 1 tbsp flour and worked out perfectly!)

Season with salt and pepper. Add the Parmesan and stir until melted. 

Toss to combine, thinning with pasta water if necessary.

This sauce can be used for fettuccine Alfredo, or farfalle pasta and peas! I tossed frozen peas into the pasta with sauce and just heated through for a few minutes.

I also used this sauce as a base for a white mushroom pizza. Either make pizza dough recipe here (or store bought) roll out, schmear a generous amount of Alfredo sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and sautéed mushrooms!

Enjoy!