Patty-Pan or Flying Saucer Squash

It is time for Drew's Mom to return to civilization from her summer home. R&D trek north to pick her up and to enjoy one last bbq in the wilderness - it is, alas, too cold for a last dip in the lake for 2013. Drew's Mom has been dropping tantalizing hints via email about a mysterious find at the Sharbot Lake Farmers' Market. It is indeed a jaw-dropper.

"It looks like a ghost," says Drew. "Perfect for Halloween!"

"It is a very pale Blinky, Pinky, Inky or Clyde," laughs Raul. "What kind of whatever is it? And how do we cook it?"

"According to the woman at the market it is a 'patty-pan zucchini,'" explains Drew's Mom. "I've never seen anything like it. She said to just rub it with olive oil and put it on the grill. She said to bake it for 20 minutes and then let it cool a bit so that the rind hardens again. Then you slice it in half and put on butter, salt and pepper. I think it sounds . . . delicious."

Without a concrete recipe or even identification of what sort of vegetable, animal or mineral this pale blob is, Raul is skeptical. Drew searches online and discovers that it is also called "flying saucer squash" and that there are many ways to cook it. A nutty flavour is promised and as all three are fans of squash, the saucer's fate is sealed. And the decision, two to one, is made to follow the farmer market vendor's instructions, "Vague as they are," mutters Raul under his breath.

Drew slathers the spooky squash with olive oil and hands it over to Raul who hesitantly transfers it to the grill.

When the milky white colour is striated with grill marks the squash is suddenly much less alien and much more appetizing. Raul times carefully but there is really no way to know if the squash is done or not other than guesswork. Raul pokes it with his finger and the skin gives a little. He shrugs, "I think it's done."

Drew takes the squash and covers it with an inverted glass bowl so that the heat and moisture are preserved. While the corn and pork loin are bbq'ing the squash steams. "ETA?" asks Drew who is grateful to have a mission.

"About five minutes," says Raul.

Drew takes a large knife and cleanly slices the saucer top off. There are, thankfully, no little green corpses but there are some unexpected seeds. Drew cleans out the seeds and membranes which fortuitously leaves little pockets for the butter. A few solid slabs of butter, a dash of salt and a few hefty grinds of black pepper and Drew judges the alien dish as fit for human consumption.

The lid does not really go back on in a way that is visually appealing so Raul cuts the squash into smaller pieces and everyone digs in. The flavour is extremely mild and the nuttiness is more like a hint or an accent.

"Is it cooked enough," asks Drew. "It's more vegetably and less squashy."

"I can put it on for a few more minutes," offers Raul.

"No," says Drew, "I think I like this texture. It is just a little bland."

"It would be perfect if baked with a tomato sauce," remarks Drew's Mom who is already scheming and planning. "It would be so entertaining to make one for your nephew."

"Or even better use a pesto," suggests Drew, "he'd love to cut into aliens."

"I just might," says Drew's Mom.