Impact-Site-Verification: 1cb465d5-142e-4cf6-86ca-0aa713f68a05

Happy Fall Yall

Since it's August and the beginning of fall season (even though texas doesn't feel like fall at all), I wanted to make a fall inspired dish. This is a Pumpkin pasta. It is a pretty quick and easy meal you could make on a week night. It isn't plated very pretty but it was very good. Michael went back for seconds, so that's how I usually know it's good.

By Olivia Hall

Happy Fall Yall

Ingredients

  • 1 15 oz can of Pumpkin Puree
  • 1 Pound of Ground Beef (you can also use chicken or turkey, whichever you prefer)
  • 1 tsp of Chili Flakes (give or take depending on how you like your spice level)
  • 1 tsp of Cinnamon
  • 1/2 an Onion chopped finely
  • 1/2 cup of Heavy Cream
  • 1/2 tsp of Ground Nutmeg
  • 1/3 cup of Grated Parmesan
  • 2 cups of pasta (I used fusilli but rigatoni or shells would be good as well)
  • 2 tbsp of Tomato Paste
  • 2 tsp of Ground Pepper
  • 2-3 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 2–3 tsp of Salt
  • 4-5 cloves of minced garlic (I love garlic so you could do 2-3 if you prefer)

Instructions

  1. Cook your pasta according to the direction on the box and set 1/4 cup of pasta water aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, break it up with a wooden spoon, and cook for about 7-10 minutes. Add some salt and pepper half way through. Stir occasionally, until it’s just cooked through. Remove the sausage from the pan.
  3. In the same skillet, heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent. Then add in your garlic and cook for about a minute, stirring often.
  4. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Stir in the canned pumpkin, heavy cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, chili flakes, and parmesan cheese. Let simmer for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat.
  5. Add the cooked pasta, cooked sausage, and 1/4 cup pasta water to the pumpkin sauce and stir until well-coated. Taste test and add more salt, pepper, or chili flakes if you desire.
  6. Plate up your dish, sprinkle a little parmesan on top, and enjoy! :)
  7. side note: you can also add vegetables in this. I added some fire roasted peppers but you could add broccoli or whatever you want to make this dish your own! :)