Grilled Butternut Squash Skewers

These colorful skewers are a delicious accompaniment to Spicy-Smoky Mexican Pork Kebabs (grill the squash after grilling the meat).

• 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Boil the squash until tender but still firm, about 10 min. Drain and cool under cold water. Toss the squash with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Thread the squash onto skewers and set aside.

Build a medium-hot charcoal fire or heat a gas grill to medium high and oil the grill grate. Grill the squash skewers, basting with the reserved marinade, until browned and tender, 5 to 7 min.

Classic Apple Pie

For best results, bake this pie at least a few hours before you plan to cut into it; otherwise, the filling may be soupy. With time, the fruit reabsorbs the juices, and the pie will cut like a charm. A pastry cloth and a rolling pin stocking, or sleeve, are simple tools that make it easier to roll out the dough.

• 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 lb. Cortland apples (about 4 medium)
• 1 lb.Granny Smith apples (about 2-1/2 medium)
• 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 3 Tbs. cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon; more to taste
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 large egg white
• 2 tsp. unsalted butter, softened, plus 1 Tbs. cold unsalted butter cut into small (1/4-inch) cubes
• 4 to 6 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 1 recipe Flaky Pie Pastry

Position two oven racks in the lower third of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F.

Make the filling:

Peel the apples, cut each in half from top to bottom, remove the cores with a melon baller, and trim the ends with a paring knife. Lay the apples, cut side down, on a cutting board. Cut the Cortland apples (below left) crosswise into 3/4-inch pieces, and then halve each piece diagonally. Cut the Granny Smith apples (below right) crosswise into 1/4-inch slices, leaving them whole. Put the apples in a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice.

Combine the brown sugar, 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, kosher salt, and nutmeg in a small bowl. (Don’t add this to the fruit yet.)

In a small dish, lightly beat the egg white with 1 teaspoon water. Set aside.

Assemble the pie:

Butter a 9-inch ovenproof glass (Pyrex) pie plate, including the rim, with the 2 tsp. of softened butter.

Rub 2 to 3 Tbs. of flour into the surface of a pastry cloth, forming a circle about 15 inches across, and also into a rolling pin stocking. If you don’t have a pastry cloth, rub the flour into a large, smooth-weave, cotton kitchen towel and use a floured rolling pin. Roll one of the disks of dough into a circle that’s 1/8 inch thick and about 15 inches across.

Lay the rolling pin across the upper third of the dough circle; lift the pastry cloth to gently drape the dough over the pin and then roll the pin toward you, wrapping the remaining dough loosely around it. Hold the rolling pin over the near edge of the pie plate. Allowing for about a 1-inch overhang, unroll the dough away from you, easing it into the contours of the pan. If the dough isn’t centered in the pan, gently adjust it and then lightly press it into the pan. Take care not to stretch the dough. If it tears, simply press it back together—the dough is quite forgiving.

Brush the bottom and sides of the dough with a light coating of the egg-white wash (you won’t need all of it). Leaving a 1/4-inch overhang, cut around the edge of the dough with kitchen shears.

Combine the sugar mixture with the apples and toss to coat well. Mound the apples in the pie plate, rearranging the fruit as needed to make the pile compact. Dot the apples with the 1 Tbs. cold butter cubes.

Rub another 2 to 3 Tbs. flour into the surface of the pastry cloth and stocking. Roll the remaining dough into a circle that’s 1/8 inch thick and about 15 inches across. Use the rolling pin to move the dough. As you unroll the dough, center it on top of the apples. Place your hands on either side of the top crust of the pie and ease the dough toward the center, giving the dough plenty of slack. Leaving a 3/4-inch overhang, trim the top layer of dough around the rim of the pie plate. Fold the top layer of dough under the bottom layer, tucking the two layers of dough together. Press a lightly floured fork around the edge of the dough to seal it, or flute the edge of the dough with lightly floured fingers.

Lightly brush the top with cold water and sprinkle the surface with the remaining 1 Tbs. sugar. Make steam vents in the dough by poking the tip of a paring knife through it in a few places; it’s important to vent well so that the steam from the cooking apples won’t build up and crack the top of the crust.

Bake the pie:

Cover the rim of the pie with aluminum foil bands. This will prevent the edge of the crust from overbrowning.

Place a rimmed baking sheet or an aluminum foil drip pan on the oven rack below the pie to catch any juices that overflow during baking. Set the pie on the rack above.

Bake until the top and bottom crusts are golden brown and the juices are bubbling, 60 to 75 minutes; to thicken, the juices must boil, so look for the bubbles through the steam vents or through cracks near the edges of the pie and listen for the sound of bubbling juices. During the last 5 minutes of baking, remove the foil bands from the edges of the pie. Cool the pie at least 3 hours and up to overnight before serving.

Classic Apple Pie

For best results, bake this pie at least a few hours before you plan to cut into it; otherwise, the filling may be soupy. With time, the fruit reabsorbs the juices, and the pie will cut like a charm. A pastry cloth and a rolling pin stocking, or sleeve, are simple tools that make it easier to roll out the dough.

• 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 lb. Cortland apples (about 4 medium)
• 1 lb.Granny Smith apples (about 2-1/2 medium)
• 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 3 Tbs. cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon; more to taste
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 large egg white
• 2 tsp. unsalted butter, softened, plus 1 Tbs. cold unsalted butter cut into small (1/4-inch) cubes
• 4 to 6 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 1 recipe Flaky Pie Pastry

Position two oven racks in the lower third of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F.

Make the filling:

Peel the apples, cut each in half from top to bottom, remove the cores with a melon baller, and trim the ends with a paring knife. Lay the apples, cut side down, on a cutting board. Cut the Cortland apples (below left) crosswise into 3/4-inch pieces, and then halve each piece diagonally. Cut the Granny Smith apples (below right) crosswise into 1/4-inch slices, leaving them whole. Put the apples in a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice.

Combine the brown sugar, 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, kosher salt, and nutmeg in a small bowl. (Don’t add this to the fruit yet.)

In a small dish, lightly beat the egg white with 1 teaspoon water. Set aside.

Assemble the pie:

Butter a 9-inch ovenproof glass (Pyrex) pie plate, including the rim, with the 2 tsp. of softened butter.

Rub 2 to 3 Tbs. of flour into the surface of a pastry cloth, forming a circle about 15 inches across, and also into a rolling pin stocking. If you don’t have a pastry cloth, rub the flour into a large, smooth-weave, cotton kitchen towel and use a floured rolling pin. Roll one of the disks of dough into a circle that’s 1/8 inch thick and about 15 inches across.

Lay the rolling pin across the upper third of the dough circle; lift the pastry cloth to gently drape the dough over the pin and then roll the pin toward you, wrapping the remaining dough loosely around it. Hold the rolling pin over the near edge of the pie plate. Allowing for about a 1-inch overhang, unroll the dough away from you, easing it into the contours of the pan. If the dough isn’t centered in the pan, gently adjust it and then lightly press it into the pan. Take care not to stretch the dough. If it tears, simply press it back together—the dough is quite forgiving.

Brush the bottom and sides of the dough with a light coating of the egg-white wash (you won’t need all of it). Leaving a 1/4-inch overhang, cut around the edge of the dough with kitchen shears.

Combine the sugar mixture with the apples and toss to coat well. Mound the apples in the pie plate, rearranging the fruit as needed to make the pile compact. Dot the apples with the 1 Tbs. cold butter cubes.

Rub another 2 to 3 Tbs. flour into the surface of the pastry cloth and stocking. Roll the remaining dough into a circle that’s 1/8 inch thick and about 15 inches across. Use the rolling pin to move the dough. As you unroll the dough, center it on top of the apples. Place your hands on either side of the top crust of the pie and ease the dough toward the center, giving the dough plenty of slack. Leaving a 3/4-inch overhang, trim the top layer of dough around the rim of the pie plate. Fold the top layer of dough under the bottom layer, tucking the two layers of dough together. Press a lightly floured fork around the edge of the dough to seal it, or flute the edge of the dough with lightly floured fingers.

Lightly brush the top with cold water and sprinkle the surface with the remaining 1 Tbs. sugar. Make steam vents in the dough by poking the tip of a paring knife through it in a few places; it’s important to vent well so that the steam from the cooking apples won’t build up and crack the top of the crust.

Bake the pie:

Cover the rim of the pie with aluminum foil bands. This will prevent the edge of the crust from overbrowning.

Place a rimmed baking sheet or an aluminum foil drip pan on the oven rack below the pie to catch any juices that overflow during baking. Set the pie on the rack above.

Bake until the top and bottom crusts are golden brown and the juices are bubbling, 60 to 75 minutes; to thicken, the juices must boil, so look for the bubbles through the steam vents or through cracks near the edges of the pie and listen for the sound of bubbling juices. During the last 5 minutes of baking, remove the foil bands from the edges of the pie. Cool the pie at least 3 hours and up to overnight before serving.

Thai Flavor Paste

This extremely versatile flavoring paste is the essence of Thai cooking. The ritual of Thai food preparation invariably begins with pounding these ingredients, sometimes along with other herbs and spices, into a paste. Try it in Stir-Fried Chicken with Green Beans & Mushrooms.  You can use a mortar, a food processor, or a blender, but the paste made in a machine will be coarser. For a less-pungent paste, use 2 tsp. peppercorns and 1 tsp. coriander seeds.

• 1 Tbs. coriander seeds
• 2 Tbs. white peppercorns (preferably Thai)
• 12 to 15 cloves garlic, minced (1/2 cup)
• 1 tsp. coarse sea salt or kosher salt
• 1 cup minced fresh cilantro stems, roots, or-both

Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the coriander seeds and toast them, shaking the skillet, until the seeds are aromatic, about 3 minutes. Pour the seeds into a small bowl to cool. Repeat with the peppercorns. When cool, grind the coriander seeds and peppercorns separately in an electric spice grinder or a mortar and pestle.

To finish with a mortar and pestle:

Put the garlic and salt in a mortar (set a damp towel under the mortar to keep it from sliding) and pound straight up and down with the pestle until a paste forms. Use a spatula to scrape the garlic from the sides into the center of the mortar as often as necessary. Add the cilantro roots and stems and continue pounding to a fairly smooth paste. Add the ground spices and pound until incorporated. Transfer to a sealed jar and refrigerate.

To finish with a food processor or blender:

Pulse the garlic, salt, and cilantro roots and stems in the processor until finely minced, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the ground spices and process to a paste. Transfer to a sealed jar and refrigerate.

Butterscotch Crunch Ice Cream

If you like your ice cream not so sweet, use only two-thirds of the candy; the rest will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for two weeks.

For the butterscotch crunch:

• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbs. Scotch whisky
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the ice cream base:

• 3 cups milk
• 1 vanilla bean, split
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 9 large egg yolks
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

To make the butterscotch crunch:

Spray a 13x9-inch baking pan or Pyrex dish with nonstick spray or grease it very lightly. In a medium, heavy-based saucepan, combine the cream, butter, brown sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often. When big bubbles start to form, check the mixture with a candy thermometer. As soon as it reaches 285°F, remove it from the heat and carefully stir in the whisky and vanilla. Carefully pour the mixture into the prepared pan, spreading it with an oiled spatula. Let cool. Break the cooled candy into chunks and pulse the chunks in a food processor (in batches if necessary) until the pieces are the size of corn kernels. If you create a lot of powder, you might want to sift the crunch before adding it to the ice cream.

To make the ice cream:

In a medium, heavy-based saucepan, combine the milk and vanilla bean and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Fill a large bowl with ice.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the brown sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla extract until combined. Slowly pour some of the hot cream mixture into the yolk mixture, stirring to temper it. Return this mixture to the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring until it’s slightly thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon.

Pour the mixture into a clean medium bowl and nestle it into the bowl of ice; stir the mixture to cool it and then refrigerate until very cold. Strain the mixture and freeze it in an ice-cream maker following the manufacturer’s directions. When almost completely frozen, swirl in the butterscotch crunch: put half of the ice cream in a chilled stainless-steel bowl, sprinkle half of the crunch on top, and swirl with a butter knife. Top with the remaining ice cream and crunch and swirl again. Cover the ice cream tightly with plastic wrap and freeze.