BRANDIED PUMPKIN AND QUINCE COBBLER

2 c Quince (about 1 lg quince)
2 lb Sugar pumpkin
1/4 c Brandy
1/2 c Orange juice
1/4 c Granulated sugar
1/4 c Light brown sugar
1/2 c Currants
1/2 ts Salt

---DOUGH--
1 1/2 c All-purpose flour
1/2 ts Salt
4 ts Sugar
2 ts Baking powder
1/2 ts Baking soda
4 tb Unsalted butter
3/4 c Buttermilk

---SYRUP--
2 tb Unsalted butter
2 tb Maple syrup
2 tb Pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel and coarsely grate the quince. Peel, seed, and cut into 1-inch dice the pumpkin to yield 3 cups. Toast and coarsely chop the pecans.

Combine the quince, Pumpkin, brandy, orange juice, white and brown sugars, the currants and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a shallow 2-quart baking dish; let cool. The dough: Combine the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder and soda in a food processor. Pulse a couple of times to combine. Drop in the butter and pulse 4 to 5 times. Pour in the buttermilk and pulse just until combined. (The mixture should be moist but not wet.)

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and pat out to a 1-inch thickness.

Cut into squares or triangles and place, in an almost scattered manner, over the cooled fruit mixture, leaving spaces between the pieces for steam to escape.

The syrup:

Combine the syrup ingredients in a saucepan and heat until
the butter melts. Pour over the cobbler.

Place the pan on a cookie sheet (to catch run-overs) and bake for 30 minutes, or until the fruit is bubbling and the dough has risen and is golden brown.

Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Pass a bowl of whipped cream at the table, if desired.

Servings: 8
Source: The San Francisco Chronicle, November 22, 1995