Do I even need to tell you what happens when pear juices bubble with lemon, butter and vanilla bean-flecked sugar for an hour? Pear caramel is what happens. And how it smells? Good enough that the UPS guy stays too long.
Butternut squash stands in for pumpkin in this pie, which received our Test Kitchens' highest rating. Prepare a day in advance, and store at room temperature.