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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Squashy, Cheesy, Sausage (-y?) Pasta Bake!

Do you remember me recently telling you that I only started loving sweet potatoes in the last few years? Well, same goes for squash. Seriously. So, I'm trying different cooking methods and recipes and trying to figure out my favorite use for squash. And how to decide which kind of squash to try next...Jinkies!! Last time I had a chance to get to the Farmer's Market, I decided to try a couple new kinds...and then I wanted to make a pasta dish with one of them that looked a little something (okay, exactly) like this... Only problem is...I can't remember the name of this squash! I knew I should have written it down, but I assured myself that I would remember. How could I possibly forget in the 10 or 15 minutes it takes me to get from the market back home? I don't know...but I did. Typical. Anybody know what kind of squash this is? I remember that it has the word "sugar"...or maybe it's "sweet" somewhere in it...3 words, maybe? Pretty sure it was "sugar", though. Anyhoo...I quartered it to start with.Then I scooped out the seeds and put a pat of butter along with a good sprinkling of sea salt and grinding of black pepper and roasted them in a 350 degree F oven until they were nice and tender. Once cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh and smoosh it up in a bowl...eat it or save it to use in anyway you choose.......perhaps in a dish like: Squashy, Cheesy Pasta Bake by girlichef (bear with me...usually I write the recipe down as I go along...this one was a little lacking in the notes department...so I'm going by less than stellar memory!) 1/2 lb. Italian Sausage, loose 1 red onion, sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced ~1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced few good glugs of Red (or white) Wine ~1 c. cooked, smooshed Squash (any kind, I'd imagine) ~3/4 lb. Rigatoni ~4 oz. Swiss cheese ~1 c. Homemade Cottage cheese (dry, crumbly form), divided or another fresh, crumbly cheese Freshly grated Parmesan cheese Parsley, chopped- to taste Sage, chopped- to taste Sea Salt & Black Pepper- to taste 2 Tbs. butter (cut into small pieces), divided 2 eggs, beaten Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown your sausage. Add onions and garlic and cook until they begin to soften. Add mushrooms and cook for a few minutes longer, until veggies are all tender. Pour in wine and let it cook down for a minute or two. Plop in squash and stir it all around until it is a thick-ish sauce...add up to 1/2 c. or so of water if it seems to thick. Okay, while you've got all of this goodness going on, be sure to cook your pasta until al dente. Dot the bottom of a 9x13 pan with 1 Tbs. butter. Grate your cheddar and Parmesan into dish next. Sprinkle with 3/4 c. cottage cheese. Once your pasta is drained, toss the squash mixture with the pasta. Pour all into your prepared baking dish, packing down as necessary. Beat up your eggs and bit and pour them over the top of your pasta mixture. In fact, do this before you even put it in the pan...because I bet it would work better. Mix it up and spread in dish. Top with remaining Tbs. of butter. Put in oven and bake for...shit, don't remember how long I baked it...as long as it takes for it to look done. It'll be a bit dry on top and around the edges, maybe around 15 or 20 minutes. Scoop onto a plate and sprinkle with parsley, sage and remaining cottage cheese...and more Parm...why not!? Enjoy. I am sending this over to Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything at least once...who is hosting Presto Pasta Nights this week!

Would you like to comment?

  1. Am I seriously your first comment, WHOA!!! So feeling cool right about now! First of all, awesome job on incorporating squash into pasta! Second, CREATIVE!! Great post!

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  2. Mmm ... pasta bake ... When I first read this, I though it said "Squishy, Cheesy Pasta Bake." I think that should be your next pasta bake idea. :)

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  3. I think the squash is called red kuri. It looks like a red kuri. This pasta dish looks very good - gooey and savory! Yum!

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  4. Oh My, that looks as good as the name makes it sound....

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  5. That looks delicious and I'm pretty sure it's called a Sugar Pumpkin.

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  6. I am a sweet potato/squash hater too! I am not yet reformed...but I am glad you got over your aversion.

    Anything with cheese and sausage can't be totally bad, right?

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  7. Yum. I'm always game for a good pasta bake. It's so amazing how versatile pasta can be. Awesome!!

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  8. Looks yummy! I love pasta and trying new recipes with it... this looks really good

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  9. I only started liking squash a few years ago, too, and then only spaghetti squash. I really don't like smooth, mushy foods and so the texture of squash really puts me off.

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  10. My word, there sure is lots to relish about your pasta bake.

    I would feel like Mighty Mouse if I had a bowl of that before me.

    Happy Pasta Month, Heather!!!

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  11. I'm a huge fan of squash and this dish looks amazing! Excellent use of squash. I can only imagine how amazing this must taste.

    I have the same problem...sometimes I'm so good about writing down the recipe as I go and sometimes I have to think really hard about how I put something together...how much of each ingredient I used, how long I cooked it, at what temp...etc. At least blogging requires me to keep some record of my experiments so that I can hopefully replicate them someday!

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  12. What a great use for that beautiful squash and a great use for your handmade cottage cheese as well! Yummy!

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  13. Looks like a sugar pumpkin (ie: eating pumpkin rather than a carving one) - but I am sure it goes by many names, depending where you are.
    What a great fall dish. I seem to be getting more and more into sweet potatoes and squash as time goes on.
    I love all the cheesey, noodley goodness in here!

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  14. yaya...funny how we decide to experiment with "squash' when we get older...or maybe its all the peer pressure from our fellow foodies LOL. I just discovered that i love roasted butternut...and tonight i made sweet potato fries. not bad.

    You dish looks delish (couldn't resist sounding corny hahaha...gotta love the wine). I've never seen that squash before. sooo....do you like it? (or did i miss that sentence)..i mean, you told us to enjoy...does that mean you enjoyed this squash? LOL

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  15. oh this is a cool way to use squash love it

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  16. Mmm, this looks like it tastes indulgent, but is really pretty good for you - yum!

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  17. Delicious and beautiful way to increase the nutritive value of squash. Also a good way to introduce squash for those who may be reluctant to try its goodness.

    No idea what the name of the squash is. At first blush I, too, thought it was a pumpkin. Goes to show what I know, grins.

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  18. Oh my goodness,this looks mouth watering!! How delicious.

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  19. I love all that ooey-gooey goodness. As a co-former squash hater, now appreciator trying to be a squah lover--this looks delicious! ;-)

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  20. Oooohhhh,Ahhhhhh. I love an Autumn casserole. Looks so good and cheesy!

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  21. Ill be grabbing that forkful in the last shot. Delicious dish in all its squashy cheesy goodness.

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  22. It is a red kuri squash! I know because I have some of it pureed and sitting in my freezer. Waiting for me to make this. Squash and sausage are just so good together. The sweet with the salty...you have me salivating uncontrollably ;).

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  23. I tried to make pumpkin lasagna once and it didn't go over well with the kids. This however, looks delicious.

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  24. Okay people [she says with love] this is totally not a sugar pumpkin...THAT name I would have remembered, LOL!!! Joanne seems to be pretty sure...although I know that's not what they called it...but things do have more than one name!! So, red kuri...where's the "sugar"...IDK...anyway...I was thinking maybe Kabocha as well, from looking at pictures. Anyway...it is a deeper than deep orange (yes, almost reddish orange) that doesn't translate very well in the pix.

    But no matter what the name...YES, I really liked it!!!

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  25. I don't think we get red kuri squash here. I could substitute though - this looks like a hearty meal!

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  26. that looks great! I love trying out all the random squashes at the farmer's market :)

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  27. ohgoodlord, this looks FABulous. All of my favorite ingredients. Will save this recipe. There are so many different squash types with so many different names and varieties. I'm with you, by the time I get it home and want to talk about it, I have to search my memory. Thanks for the post.

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  28. I was going to guess sugar pumpkin too... LOL!!

    So I have no idea what it is if it's not that... but...

    That dish looks wicked good!!!

    I'm still trying to get my family to enjoy squash... it's a struggle!!

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  29. This really does look delicious. I think your squash is the one they call sugar pie pumpkin.

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  30. whatever's in it, it looks yummy! i love pasta and sausage together. and with cheese? well i'm in heaven :)

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  31. This sounds absolutely wonderful!!! My kind of dish. I think I've seen that pumpkin at the farmer's market, but I'm not sure of the exact name either. i think I may have to make this :)

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  32. I would love this without the sausage. I would like it as a dairy dish. Squash is so versatile.

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  33. I'll be curious to find out what kind of squash it is, let us know if you figure it out! The pasta bake sounds super delicious!

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  34. vat a great idea girlie!! ive never thought of incorporating pumpkin in to my pasta!! great dish for halloween!! cheers!!

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  35. this dish is GORGEOUS! such a great combination of flavors, great job!

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  36. Very creative use of squash! How is my MSU nemesis doing this year? Football season can get crazy.

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  37. gotta be honest, I would try any of these, but,,, you have lots of flavors, but I would need more to kill the taste and texture of the squash... Sorry, i feel guilty...

    But Jinkies... If I draw hornrim glasses on your photo, I can see the resemblance. I always thought Velma was hot

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  38. I love the combo of flavors and this is another great way to cook squash or pumpkin! Brilliant Heather!

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  39. Hahaha, if I were still a kid, I'd want this to be the treats for Halloween.

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  40. What a beautiful dish! I am so impressed with the creativity. Delicious.

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  41. Heh, that's hilarious I just got into sweet potato and squash myself. Your bake looks fantastic, I could go for some right now!

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  42. I'm a fall squash virgin although I want to try a few this year.

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  43. I like your notes added into the recipe. hee hee :-)

    I saw the title of this recipe in my blog reader this morning and I had been thinking about it all day- it looks fantastic. when are you going to invite me over to dinner? I'll bring the cake!

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  44. This looks excellent! I made something similar but I didn't bake it or use wine. Love the wine in it!

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  45. Not sure which squash you used, but it looks fantastic. And I don't think you could go wrong with any kind of squash.

    Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Night.

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  46. Not sure which squash you used, but it looks fantastic. And I don't think you could go wrong with any kind of squash.

    Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Night.

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  47. Sometimes I get quite confused with pumpkin and squash...your pumpkin dish looks terrific...those dishes taste very good even when they are cold.

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  48. I'm always confused about the variety of pumpkin/squash in the grocery store.

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  49. I know it's doesn't have sugar in the name but it sorta looks like a ambercup squash. I could be wrong though. This pasta looks great. I love the added sausage...delicious!!!

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  50. Happy Halloween. Pasta with squash sounds great.

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  51. My husband would love this. I'm "trying" to learn to love squash too (However, I do like the yellow summers squash).
    Sam

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  52. Whoa, your squashy cheesy pasta looks truly heartwarming .. and stomach satisfying! I'll have a mound of that, please :)

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  53. I was going to say it sounds like a "pie" pumpkin, which is apparently also called a "sugar" pumpkin.


    Or maybe it was a "Cinderella" pumpkin. These pages may prove useful:

    www.whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm
    www.foodsubs.com/Squash.html
    www.thenibble.com/reviews/MAIN/vegetables/squash-glossary5.asp


    I wonder what it is about squash that makes us dislike it so as children. I used to loathe squash and now adore it.

    We are having butternut squash (with sage) in lasagne tonight.

    Your pasta with squash looks awfully tempting too!

    -Elizabeth

    P.S. Thanks for the reminder to find out the name of my sister's favourite squash that is very large with a grey green shell and deep gold flesh.

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  54. cheese n pasta n sausages! yum!

    oh and your pictures are yummy too!

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  55. I HAVE TO try this soon! Love everything about this!

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