Christophene Quick Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water and add a little salt. Bring the water to a boil, then add the cubed squash and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the cooked squash and set aside in a large, well-greased baking dish.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Slowly whisk in the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture is creamy and thick. Slowly stir in the milk and mix until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the 1/2 cup of grated cheese and stir until melted and well-mixed, about 1 minute. Add the onion, garlic, salt, celery, mustard and sugar to the sauce and mix well. Remove the sauce from heat and pour over the christophene in the baking dish. Stir everything together, then top with the remainig 1 cup grated cheese.
• Place the mixture in the oven and bake until golden brown, about 20 to 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Steps:

• In a large bowl or plastic container, mix yeast and salt into 3 cups lukewarm water (about 100 degrees). Stir in flour, mixing until there are no dry patches. Dough will be quite loose. Cover, but not with an airtight lid. Let dough rise at room temperature 2 hours (or up to 5 hours).
• Bake at this point or refrigerate, covered, for as long as two weeks. When ready to bake, sprinkle a little flour on dough and cut off a grapefruit-size piece with serrated knife. Turn dough in hands to lightly stretch surface, creating a rounded top and a lumpy bottom. Put dough on pizza peel sprinkled with cornmeal; let rest 40 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough or refrigerate it.
• Place broiler pan on bottom of oven. Place baking stone on middle rack and turn oven to 450 degrees; heat stone at that temperature for 20 minutes.
• Dust dough with flour, slash top with serrated or very sharp knife three times. Slide onto stone. Pour one cup hot water into broiler pan and shut oven quickly to trap steam. Bake until well browned, about 30 minutes. Cool completely.

Steps:

• Cut the christophine in half lengthwise. Cut side down, steam it over boiling water for 40 minutes, or until the flesh is easily pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Discard the soft white heart.
• If making a gratin, scoop out the flesh from the skin, leaving a shell one-quarter-inch thick. If making acras, use all of the flesh.
• Mash the flesh with a fork. Drain, then squeeze dry between doubled paper towels.