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1
Bring about an inch of water to the boil in a large stockpot. Cut the squash into large wedges and remove the seeds. Arrange in a steamer basket. Steam for 8-12 minutes, until the squash is very tender. Remove the steamer basket and let the squash cool so you can handle it. Remove the flesh from the skin into a small bowl, then mash it well with a spoon.
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2
Meanwhile, fill up the pot with water for pasta and start it boiling.
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3
In a medium frying pan, melt the butter over very low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is golden, about 8 minutes. (Don't raise the heat and try to rush this.) Add the cayenne, nutmeg, and salt and toss to mix.
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4
Add the milk, cream, and mashed squash to the pan, stirring to smooth it all together. Raise the heat slightly, bringing the sauce to the simmer. Simmer over medium heat until reduced, about 7 minutes. When you reach this point, you can add your pasta to the boiling water, so it'll be ready at the same time as the sauce.
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5
When the sauce is reduced and the pasta done, reserve a 1/2 cup of pasta water, and drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the simmering sauce, spooning in reserved water if necessary. Season with pepper and more salt or nutmeg to taste, then scrape into a bowl, toss with the Parmesan, and eat.
