Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Halve your squash and scoop out all the seeds. Place face down (skin side up) in a baking dish with 1/4 inch of water. Bake the squash for 30 - 40 minutes or until a knife easily penetrates the skin and slides easily into the flesh.

While your squash is in the oven, start your quinoa by putting 1 1/3 cups of water on to boil. When boiling, add your quinoa and let simmer for 8 - 10 minutes. Remove from heat when the water has been absorbed.

In a small saute pan, toast the chopped walnuts until they're golden brown and fragrant. Set aside.

Now prepare your vinaigrette by whisking together the mustard, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. Set aside.

Transfer your cooled quinoa to a bowl. Add the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Add your chickpeas and walnuts and fold all the ingredients together. Once combined, add your pears and lightly fluff your quinoa mixture to retain the fruit's integrity. Careful, ripe pears are delicate!

Sprinkle your squash with salt and pepper and spoon the quinoa and pears into the center of each half. Use the squash almost as a bowl. Fill them to the brim and serve the remainder of quinoa on the side.

Serve warm and fall in love with the flavors of autumn.