Monday, November 17, 2008

Butternut Squash Pancetta and Sage Pasta

Ingredients
1 medium (about 2 1/4 pounds) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
1/4 cup olive oil
Coarse salt
3/4 pound penne pasta
3 ounces pancetta, sliced 1/4 inch thick and finely chopped (bacon works, too)
2 shallots, thinly sliced crosswise (onions work just fine)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
10 fresh sage leaves, coarsely chopped or torn (i didn't have sage on hand, but i did have some thyme and it worked well)
1/2 cup finely grated pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for serving (substituted with parm, and it was great)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place butternut squash on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil; season with salt. Transfer to oven and roast until squash is browned and tender, about 15 minutes.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Generously salt water and return to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Set pasta and reserved cooking liquid aside.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add pancetta and cook until just crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Add shallots, crushed red pepper, and sage. Cook until shallots are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add penne and squash and toss gently, adding reserved pasta cooking liquid as necessary to moisten.

Add cheese and black pepper and cook, tossing gently, until pasta and squash are heated through. Serve immediately with more grated cheese, if desired.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Bean Wraps

This is the recipe that Angella requested. It's great cold or room temperature and makes a good dip for chips or wrapped in a tortilla.

2 cans black beans
2 cans kidney beans
2 cans 11 oz. mexi corn
bell pepper to taste (I usually do 1/2 a pepper)
3 green onions, chopped
1/4 to 1/2 c chopped cilantro (depending on how you feel about cilantro...)

Mix all together and then pour over the dressing and mix.

Dressing:
1 T oil
3 T apple cider vinegar
1/2 t cumin
1/4 t dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste
2 T honey
juice of one lime

This is also fine if you cut the recipe in half. I've been wanting to try mixing in tomatoes and avacadoes to makes more of a salsa. Let me know if anyone tries it before I do...