Pumpkin Ravioli

Does anything say fall more than pumpkin????? I think not…….But Pumpkin Ravioli says it best!!

Pumpkin Ravioli 4

Easy to make, using wonton wrappers instead of making pasta, filling from canned pumpkin, a touch of sage and walnuts ………yummm!

I have always loved pasta. I could eat it everyday. There is something heart warming and hearty about a pasta dish.

Pumpkin Ravioli 3

I had never really thought of  pumpkin with pasta, but you use squash, so why not pumpkin?? No reason what so ever……here we go.

Just a can of pumpkin, not pie filling, just regular pumpkin. Mix it with some grated nutmeg, buy the nuts and grate it yourself, you will not be sorry. A touch of parmesan and walnuts. A quick mix and ooh la la.. filling.

Wonton wrappers are a perfect faux pasta. Just fill, fold, and boil. It takes just minutes.

Pumpkin Ravioli 1

I had a skillet with butter over a low heat waiting to bathe the ravioli in its lusciousness. Add in some walnut and sage, give it a toss.

Plate and serve with extra, walnut, sage and parmesan cheese. The perfect fast and easy fall pasta…..Pumpkin Ravioli!

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Pumpkin Ravioli


Ingredients

Scale
  • One 15 oz can pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup ground walnuts (toasted), plus extra for garnish
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • One 8 oz. package wonton wrapper
  • Water for dabbing
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 6 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon fresh sage, chopped

Instructions

  1. Place the canned pumpkin in a bowl. Add nutmeg, walnuts, Parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and mix well.
  2. In the center of a wonton wrapper, place 1 heaping teaspoon of the pumpkin-cheese mixture near one corner
  3. Using the tip of your finger, moisten the edges of the wrapper with a dab of water. Fold wrapper over (forming a triangle) and press down the edges with your fingertips and the tines of a fork.
  4. Place the finished ravioli on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper sprayed with non stick cooking spray.
  5. Add a teaspoon of oil to a 6-quart pot of water and bring to a boil.
  6. Melt butter in a large skillet over low heat.
  7. Add the ravioli to boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Remove from water and place in skillet of warm butter.
  8. Continue with remaining ravioli adding to butter.Add the sage and pinch of salt and pepper. Toss gently to coat ravioli with butter sauce.

 

Sage Polenta Bites

Sage Polenta Bites

Sage Polenta Bites 1

I have been all about appetizers lately. Tasty little bites that hold everyone over until the main event, or that something special for a party……….Sage Polenta Bites!

I love butternut squash……….it’s sweet and nutty flavor is perfect for this recipe. I have said it before, but I go through phases with food………I was having a butternut squash phase when fall came a calling. Something about fall and butternut squash and sage……..it speaks to me……..of course what food doesn’t ……….it all speaks to me!

Soooo much inspiration comes to me at the grocery store……..I love the grocery store……….I love to grocery shop…….I know crazy huh! Well, I am a little nut off plum…….tee hee! Anyway, I was doing my pursuing at the store and saw a tube of polenta. I have grilled it and fried it before, topped it with tomatoes……yummy. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it, but it went into the cart.

Fast forward a week or so…….I had a butternut squash that I wanted to do something with,out of the corner of my eye I caught the polenta…….it’s shelf stable, so you can keep it on hand. So, out came the polenta. Now what????? Well the best way to have the butternut squash is roasted so, into the oven with a little bit of oil and salt and pepper. While that was roasting I was looking at the polenta for some idea of how to cook it……crispy?……..panko crumbs, it makes everything crispy. So, three station dip for the polenta…….flour, egg, panko. Into some hot oil and crispy they were. Now to top them, although I could have eaten them as they were. At this point if you are making them for a party, you can hold them in a warm oven to keep them crisp.

Sage Polenta Bites

The squash was roasted, but I wanted to jazz it up some……walnuts, sage, and a touch of garlic. Cooked the walnuts, sage and garlic in a touch of oil and added it to the roasted squash. 

Still something missing…..some kind of creamy something…..maybe cheese……..goat cheese! Flavor for the goat cheese??? First I thought no, then maybe, finally yes……..not sure why I tried it, but I am sure glad I did……. maple syrup. It was perfect!

So, crispy polenta, a smear of maple goat cheese, and the squash walnut mixture. Looks real pretty……..take a bite………heaven……..it was one of those moments when Tim and I both said……thats the ticket!

One thing I have learned after a year of writing this blog, by the time you get the pictures taken the food is cold……in this case it did not matter, they still tasted awesome!

So, for that extra special party or just because try these Sage Polenta Bites you will be glad you did!

Sage Polenta Bites Collage

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Sage Polenta Bites

Sage Polenta Bites

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • Squash Mixture
  • 2 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/ cup toasted walnut,chopped
  • 1 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Polenta
  • 1 1/4 cups panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 (18-ounce) tube prepared polenta, cut into 12 (1/2-inch) slices
  • 1/4 cup peanut oil
  • Goat Cheese
  • 14oz package goat cheese
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Squash Mixture
  2. Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
  3. In a medium bowl, toss the butternut squash cubes with 2 teaspoons oil. Spread out the butternut squash ona baking sheet sprayed with onon-stick spray.Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the squash for 35 to 45 minutes, or until tender and startin gto caramelize.
  4. While the squash is roasting, in a small skillet, heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil over medium-low heat. Add the walnuts, sage and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until the nuts are lightly browned, and garlic is fragrant 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Scoop the butternut squash into a large bowl. Scrape the pine nut mixture onto the butternut squash and gently toss.
  6. Polenta
  7. Place bread crumbs, flour and egg into separate shallow bowls.
  8. Cut polenta slices in half.
  9. Dip each polenta piece into flour, then egg and then bread crumbs.
  10. Heat oil over medium heat. Place dipped polenta pieces into skillet careful not to over crowd. Cook 3-5 minutes or until golden brown.Turn polenta slices; cook again for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove polenta to parchement lined baking sheet; place in 250* oven to keep warm.
  11. Goat Cheese
  12. Mix together until smooth.
  13. To assemble
  14. Remove polenta from oven and allow to cool slightly.Just so you can handle them. Place a dollop of the goat cheese mixture on each polenta piece. Top with roasted butternut squash mixture. Garnish with small sage leaves if desired.

Keywords: appetizer, goat cheese, polenta, sage, walnuts, butternut squash

 

 

Apple Bacon Chicken Burger

Apple Bacon Chicken Burger

Apple Bacon Chicken Burger

 Shhh! ……….I don’t want to say this too loud, but I think the weather is taking a turn ……for the better 🙂

That means its time to dust off (maybe you will still have to shovel,depending on where you live) the grill. An nice burger on the grill would really hit the spot, huh????

Maybe this Apple Bacon Chicken Burger would be just the ticket. I said it a million…slight exaggeration …….times but I love ground chicken for a burger in place of turkey. For me, it has a better flavor, but if you are a lover of the turkey, please substitute it in this recipe.

As anyone who has used ground chicken (or turkey) knows it can be a little dry, but in the case of this burger the add ins make it nice and juicy. One other tip, I know its poultry and you do need to cook it through, but do not over cook it. If you do, no matter what you have added, it will be dry. A little bit of bacon, onion, sage and maple syrup add a nice flavor to the burger and a topping of Maple Dijon sauce and grilled granny smith apples and wow!!!

Tim and I love burgers and we will be adding more burger’s like the Apple Bacon Chicken Burger as the weather improves………we may even end up with our first e-book on Burgers……….Boyd’s Book of Burgers…….I like the sound of that . So stay tuned for more burger recipes and maybe that e-book.

Apple Bacon Chicken Burger Collage

 

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Apple Bacon Chicken Burger

Apple Bacon Chicken Burger

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Burgers
  • Method: Grill
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 slices bacon
  • 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 2 teaspoons fresh sage, chopped
  • 3 teaspoons maple syrup, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 granny smith apple, cored, and cut into 12 wedges
  • 4 hamburger or kaiser buns, lightly toasted

Instructions

  1. Dice bacon and cook in a small skillet until crisp. Remove from pan to drain on paper toweling. Add onions to bacon drippings and saute until lightly browned. Set aside and allow to cool slightly.
  2. Combine, ground chicken, bacon, onion, sage, 2 teaspoons of maple syrup, salt and pepper. Mix well and divide into 4 burgers.
  3. Place the burger on a grill pan or outdoor grill coated with non-stick cooking spray. Grill burgers 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
  4. Meanwhile, toss apple wedges with remaining 1 teaspoon of maple syrup. Grill the apple slices until you have nice grill marks.
  5. To assemble the burgers place burger on bottom half of bun. Top with Maple Dijon Sauce (see recipe below), top with grilled apples and top half of bun.
  6. Maple Dijon Sauce:
  7. Mix together 3 tablespoons mayo or salad dressing, 2 tablespoons dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and 1 small shallot( about 3 teaspoons). Serve with Apple Bacon Burger.

Keywords: ground chicken, apple, maple syrup, mustard, burger, grill