Roasted Acorn Squash

Ingredients

• 2 acorn or dumpling squash, about 1 pound each
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil, optional
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons amaretto
• 8 fresh sage leaves
• 1/2 pound crushed pignoli cookies, almond biscotti, or vanilla wafers

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Split the squash in half through the equator and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Set the squash halves, cut sides up, on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired. If squash are very large, cut lengthwise into quarters.

In a bowl, cream the butter with the sugar, and almond liqueur. With a brush or a spoon coat the cut sides of each squash half with the butter mixture and put 2 sage leaves on top of each. Sprinkle with the crushed cookies. Bake until tender, 30 to 35 minutes, basting every 15 minutes with any remaining butter.