As the official founder and chairhuman of the Olympic Peninsula Delicata Squash Amateur Enthusiast Group, I am proud to celebrate this week’s inclusion of delicata in the box.

  

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

 

1 delicata squash

4 tablespoons of butter

½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

 

Cut the squash in half the long way with a sharp knife on a firm cutting board. Be careful. The duller the knife, the more force you half to use, and the easier it is to maim yourself.

 

Scrape out the seeds and fibers. Scrape in the butter and, optionally, dust with the spices. Place the two halves on a baking tray, close the oven and sit down to eat dinner. When you’re ready for dessert, turn the oven off and pull the pies out. It’s as magical as that whole caterpillar-butterfly transaction. Remember?

 

For an added “oh, wow” you can soak a few dates in water (or wine), then puree them

 

hints of chile powder, freshly crushed cardamom, and unsweeted cacao nibs

 

Coat the cavities and exposed flesh of the squash with butter and your date paste, then bake as directed.