The name of this dish suggests you’ve spent half the day in your kitchen in cozy socks and a shawl-collared cardigan tasting and perfecting and taking the time to get everything juuuuust right—for your your date, your leaf-peeping companions, whoever. Only it takes six ingredients to make. And one of them is premade gnocchi. And the fried sage takes 30 seconds. It’s a fast dish for a slow season.

What You’ll Need:
¼ cup canola oil
Leaves from 2 fresh sage stems
1 lb gnocchi
2 Tbsp butter
1 lb peeled, chopped butternut squash (about 2 cups)
2 Tbsp freshly grated good-quality Parmesan

How to Make It:

1. In a small nonstick pan over medium-high, heat the oil. When it shimmers, add the sage and fry until crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sage leaves to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

2. In a large nonstick pan of boiling salted water, cook the gnocchi according to package instructions. Carefully drain.

3. In the same pan over medium, add the butter. Cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter is slightly browned and smells nutty, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the squash and cook till browned and fork-tender, about 5 minutes.

4. Return the gnocchi to the pan and stir well. Serve in bowls topped with the fried sage and Parmesan. Feeds 2.