You know that panicy feeling when someone stops by unexpectedly during the holidays………you bolt to the kitchen to see what you can pull together in a hillbilly hurry. Well, never fear I got the thing right here……Red Pepper Jam.
I know everyone is aware of a company called Tastefully Simple. They have really great products…….delicious foods and gifts for every day and every occasion. I have, in the past purchased a product called Sweet Pepper Jalapeño Jam, a friend had a party and it was one of the samples and I loved it. They just poured it over cream cheese and served it with crackers and ooh la la appetizer. So, I figured I could make something similar….and I did.
It’s fairly easy to make, the hardest part and it’s not really hard…..more time consuming is the cooking time. It needs to reduce and that takes about 45 minutes. But it has a beautiful upside…….it will keep in the frig for a month…..yes siree……… a whole month!
Make it just before Thanksgiving and it will help you sail right through the holidays for all those moments when you need to fix something in a hurry.
Keep a package of cream cheese in the frig and when company comes a calling, put the cream cheese on a nice plate, pour over your secret weapon ……..Red Pepper Jam…….and serve with crackers, or my personal favorite…….. pita chips. As you can see, I have a really cute plate that my Elementary staff gave me last year for a Christmas gift………Snowman whose mittens and boots that are little serving spreaders…….it soooo cute! Thank you ladies!!!!
You can also use the Red Pepper Jam as a condiment on sandwiches or burgers, as a glaze for vegetables or meat, or as a dip. It’s sweet and spicy and damn delicious!!!
Some of the last things to come out of your garden……should you chose to grow one…….is squash, like butternut, acorn, spaghetti ……….the ones with hard shells.
They just spell fall. They are so good roasted and roasting requires an oven, and let’s get real who wants to turn on your oven in the summer…….not me!!!
But, when sunset starts coming earlier and earlier and the air starts to cool, I get the itch to turn on the oven. Baking cookies, casseroles, bread, and of course roasted squash. I had to buy my squash 🙁 sad face……..mine did not grow…….it was a garden failure. But, thank goodness that was only me, and other gardeners were happy to sell theirs at Farmers Markets.
After my sugar coma from the Chocolate Drop Cookies, I wanted something not sweet and waaaaayyyyyyyy more healthy! Lots of veggies……..hearty, and super tasty. My inspiration in venturing into the blog world was Lindsay and Bojork from Pinch of Yum. Check out their blog……it is truly awesome!!! The Creamy Cauliflower Sauce recipe is from Pinch of Yum and boy is it yum!!!! Best part, it’s has no cream and is still creamy……go figure. It was the perfect sauce for this dish.
Tim and I are huge fans of pasta…….all kinds. The fresh kind they sell these days at the grocery stores are great.The folks at Buitoni make a Butternut Squash Stuffed Angolotti that is out of this world and even better topped with the Creamy Cauliflower Sauce, roasted butternut squash, and a touch of sage.
So I will be honest, peeling squash is not the easiest thing to do, but if you peel it before you cut it in half, it is a bit easier. I use a veggie peeler…..that way if it slips I will only cut the skin off a knuckle instead of removing a finger……Ok thats only funny in hind site….ha ha!
I wanted to have a garnish and figured if you could eat pumpkin seeds, you could eat butternut squash seeds. I did look it up to be sure, just my luck they would be toxic. But they are safe.
So, I roasted the squash and the seeds in the same pan. Just watch the seeds so they don’t burn. They do not need as long as the squash to cook. I wish mine had had a few more seeds, they were really tasty. This is not a super quick recipe, but it makes an elegant presentation and the combination of flavors is……….. rich and indulgent, but still good for you……..how can it be, but it is……the whole dish is under 500 calories and low fat.
I still find it amazing that the sauce is sooo creamy ……..I’m looking for ways to use it again…..and again……and again!!!!
Peel butternut squash, cut in half lengthwise. Remove seeds and set aside. Cube squash to make 1 cup. Keep remaining squash for another use.
Remove flesh from seeds but do not rinse.
Place seeds and cubed squash in a small baking dish. Spray with cooking spray ( I use a coconut oil spray ).
Roast in preheated oven until squash is tender and starting to brown. Keep an eye on the seeds they may need to be removed before the squash is done so they do not burn.
Prepare Creamy Cauliflower Sauce according to recipe, adding 1 teaspoon sage after sauce has been blended. Keep sauce warm.
Cook Angolotti according to package directions.
Drain pasta and divide between two serving bowls.
Spoon 1/2 cup sauce over each serving of pasta. Top each dish with 1/2 cup roasted squash.
Garnish with remaining sage and roasted squash seeds.
Garlic: Saute the minced garlic with the butter in a large nonstick skillet over low heat. Cook for several minutes or until the garlic is soft and fragrant but not browned (browned or burnt garlic will taste bitter). Remove from heat and set aside.
Cauliflower: Bring the water or vegetable broth to a boil in a large pot. Add the cauliflower and cook, covered, for 7-10 minutes or until cauliflower is fork tender. Do not drain.
Puree: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cauliflower pieces to the blender. Add 1 cup vegetable broth or cooking liquid, sauteed garlic/butter, salt, pepper, and milk. Blend or puree for several minutes until the sauce is very smooth, adding more broth or milk depending on how thick you want the sauce. You may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your blender. Serve hot! If the sauce starts to look dry, add a few drops of water, milk, or olive oil.
Seafood and pasta……..a match made in heaven. There is something about seafood, that when combined with pasta and something creamy, turns those ingredients into the yummiest thing ever!
I was going through some of my old recipes……….I have tons of them……. I have been collecting them since I was in High School. Home-Ec classes were my favorite. So, along with Home-ec and influences from my Grandmother, I have always loved to cook ……..it’s my way of showing love to friends, but mostly to family.
Tim’s twin brother Tom is here from the Philippines, and we wanted to stay in and have a nice dinner (we wanted to show Tom a little love) and watch our new TV……….48″ Sony with a new sound bar. So, while going through those old recipes, I found a seafood pasta dish called “Monterey Seafood Pasta”. I have no idea where I got the original recipe. After a bit of rewriting, I made it last night and the result was wonderful………creamy, a little bit spicy, with mushrooms and tomato, and of course the star of the show, the seafood. We added a loaf of crusty whole grain Italian bread and both Tim and Tom said it was a tasty pasta dish. Tim looked at me while eating and said “complements to the Chef”. If I can please my spice loving husband, it is a success!
We never made it to the TV portion of the evening ………well, Tom did, we got him hooked on one of our favorite TV shows “Blacklist”……..but Tim and I were pooped, so off to bed we went! Can’t wait to watch our favorite show on the big screen……..maybe with a bowl of Monterey Seafood Pasta ……….:)
Chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese for garnish.
Instructions
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons flour, stirring 1 minute, whisk in 2 cups milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened.
Meanwhile melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium high heat, add shrimp and scallop, season with salt and pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
Add garlic and mushrooms to same skillet and cook over medium heat for about 4 minutes. Add to bowl with shrimp and scallops. Increase heat to high and add white wine and brandy and cook for 2 minutes. Add milk mixture, tomatoes, sriracha sauce, and heavy cream to skillet. Bring to a boil. Return shrimp and scallops to skillet and heat through. Pour over pasta. Sprinkle with parsley and parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
