THE STARS ARE OUT
NY Times Crossword
Charles M. Deber

The stars in each clue can be replaced by the same letters to form complete words.

R*ES
C*URE
CR*ON
DEV*
UNC*H

HINTS:
#1: Y*H
#2: Each * represents three letters

Answers:

The missing letters art OUT:

ROUTES
COUTURE
CROUTON
DEVOUT
UNCOUTH 
(YOUTH)