Butternut Squash

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 1 3/4 hr Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

For a great one-dish meal, serve this rich stew over rice. If you want to make it even more authentic, use couscous, a small grain-shaped pasta that is often found in North African and Middle Eastern cooking. It's available at many supermarkets and specialty foods stores.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The sap of maple trees was being used by Native Americans when the very earliest European immigrants arrived. Then it was an all-purpose seasoning, like salt, enlivening the austere diet. Now, with the refinement achieved by boiling and concentrating the flavor of the sap, maple syrup is a uniquely American sweetener. Here it adds just the right subtle note to a colorful puree of butternut squash.

A spice combination that is inspired by Indian cuisine enhances this sensational soup. Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc as a refreshing partner.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.