Instructions: SET OVEN to 350F.

Cut squashes in half widthwise. Cut a
slice off the top and bottom, so the halves sit straight without wobbling.

Scoop out the seeds. Bake the squashes, cut side down, on a baking sheet oiled with cooking spray until soft, about 40 min. Transfer the squashes to a cake rack to cool.

Prepare the stuffing: Plump the currants in the stock in a bowl for 10 minutes. Meanwhile heat the olive oil in a large nonstick frying pan. Cook the onion, celery, and garlic over medium heat until soft but not brown, 3 to 4 min. Add the apple and corn (if using) and cook until the apple has lost its rawness, about 3 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir in the bread crumbs, herbs, lemon zest, currants with the stock, and salt and pepper to taste. The mixture should be highly seasoned and moist but not wet. Add stock or salt as needed. Spoon the stuffing into the baked squashes. The recipe can be prepared ahead to this stage.

Just before serving, bake the stuffed squashes in a 375F. oven until thoroughly heated, 15 to 20 minutes.

THIS COLORFUL dish is Thanksgiving incarnate. You could use any number of breads, from Five-Grain Bread to challah, corn bread, or whole wheat bread. The squash can be stuffed ahead of time and reheated at the last minute, which makes this an ideal dish for a buffet.

NOTE: For a fanciful
presentation, "wolf" the squashes (cut them in half in a zigzag fashion).

NOTES : Not as spicy as Im used to with his stuff, so we doubled the herbs and used fresh. Also, i see i left out the celery on the first posting. This would make a tasty poultry stuffing: chicken or game hens.

11/23 TESTED with canned corn, fewer raisins, and lots of fresh herbs: in descending order, flat leaf parsley, tarragon, cilantro, thyme, basil, and sage. For more flavor, double the herbs and double the strength of the vegetarian bouillon. Sprinkle hot squash with butter buds then fill. Spoon remaining stuffing in pan. Cut the time in half by precooking the squash in the microwave; finishing in the oven (375F 15 minutes). With a side vegetable or fruit, feeds 4. would make a good poultry stuffing.

Love that little surprise: lemon zest.

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