Different schools of thought exist about what kind of pie is an appropriate finale to the traditional Thanksgiving feast.

Most people prefer the presence of pumpkin pie, even if they don't like to eat it.

Some people, on the other hand, just don't think the feast is complete without pumpkin pie's kissing cousin - squash pie.

Many have never heard of squash pie.

"They look at me weird, like they don't know what it is," said Matthew Adams, 23, a sophomore at Utah Valley State College.

Adams said he tried unsuccessfully to convert his in-laws to squash pie last year. They told him squash doesn't belong in pies, to which he replied, "Pumpkin, squash-it's the same thing."

"I guess you could say I'm a food missionary of sorts," Adams said. He says squash pie is a family tradition.

His cousin, Charilyn Hansen, is also dedicated to the squash pie tradition.

"It has to be homemade," Hansen said.

Hansen, 28 and a part-time student at UVSC, said sometimes in recent years the squash pie was missing from Thanksgiving dinner.

"They buy pumpkin to try to replace the homemade (squash pie), and it's just not the same," she said.

Adams and Hansen's grandmother, Rhea Jolley of Provo, makes the pies these two crave.

No one can duplicate her recipe-not even she makes it the same way twice.

Jolley said the recipe is in her head.

"I can get you a recipe, but I just dump it in," she said.

Jolley said she starts with butternut squash-usually from her garden.

Microwave the squash until it's fork-tender then scoop the flesh into a blender.

Add a little milk, a little salt and some vanilla.

Squash pie takes plenty of eggs, sugar and a little cornstarch, so it doesn't go watery next to the crust, Jolley said.

Blend it all together then pour it into the crust.

Jolley said it takes about an hour to bake squash pie, depending on how thick the filling is.

To make it easy for someone who has never made squash pie or for those who prefer to use measuring cups and spoons over the "dump" method, Jolley said just use a favorite pumpkin pie recipe and substitute squash for the pumpkin.

Even those who bake their own holiday pies often rely on canned pumpkin. Canned squash is not likely to be available, so tips on using fresh pumpkin or squash could come in handy for those who want to try it.

Allrecipes.com has several pumpkin pie recipes, a few of which have tips on preparing fresh pumpkin. The same tips apply to squash.

The Web site has instructions on how to prepare pumpkin (or squash) by boiling, baking or microwaving, to accommodate a variety of individual styles.

So, for those who feel like taking a stroll on the wild side and breaking with a pumpkin pie holiday tradition, or for those who want to simply expand tradition, try a little squash pie this year to top off that holiday spread.



Copyright Brigham Young University 22 Nov 2002