Gigi's Pumpkin Pasta

I got this recipe from my girl Gigi Kennedy and we LOVE it.
I use more of the canned pumpkin rather than less--usually I make Margie's Pumpkin Muffins and used whatever's left from the can for the pasta. Mmmmmmmmm....yummy.
Enjoy!

Gigi's Pumpkin Pasta
2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp olive oil
1 pound package of Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage (removed from its casing)
2/3 cup to 2 cups pumpkin puree (depending on your personal taste)
1 can chicken broth
¼ cup half & half
½ cup sour cream (low-fat or fat free)
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp white pepper
1 tsp sage
2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
¼ cup Romano Cheese, shredded
1 pound penne or rotini pasta

In a large skillet sauté the garlic in the olive oil on medium heat. Add the turkey sausage and cook until no longer pink, breaking the meat up with your spoon as you cook it. Remove turkey sausage and garlic from the skillet. Pour the chicken broth into the skillet and deglaze the pan using a wire whisk, to bring up all of the flavors stuck to the pan. Whisk in the half and half, sour cream, pumpkin, and seasonings. Simmer for ten minutes. Meanwhile, boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain pasta and stir into the pumpkin mixture along with the turkey sausage, simmering for another three minutes or until the sauce thickens and hugs the pasta. Stir in parsley and garnish with Romano and more parsley.

Side Note- If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a little addition of chicken broth until you get it to the right consistency.

Margie's Pumpkin Muffins

I always have to search for this recipe so decided to post it here. They are so so good--and kids love them {and never know they're getting a vegetable!} Recipe from Margie Romney-Aslett.

Margie's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
2 Cups Oil
2 Cups Brown Sugar
4 Cups Sugar
(beat together)
8 beaten eggs
1 1/2 TB baking Soda dissolved in 1/3 C warm water
(add while mixing)
4 Cups Canned Pumpkin
(add to mixture)
Slowly add:
7 Cups Flour
2 TSPs Baking Powder
2 TSPs Salt
1 1/2 TSPs Ginger
2 TSPs Cloves
2 TSPs Nutmeg
4 TSPs Cinnamon
(mix)
1 Cup Warm Water
3 Cups Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
(can use Milk Chocolate)

Bake @ 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, check on them at 15 minutes
This recipe makes a BUTT load...I cut it in half and get 4 dozen muffins...
ENJOY!

Go Bananas... b-a-n-a-n-a-s!

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Banana Pudding...
2 cups of coconut (firmly packed)
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 sticks of butter

Mix above together until crumbly.
Place on a cookie sheet and backe at 300* for about 45 minutes.
Stir every 15 minutes to evenly brown.
Cool completely.

Prepare 3 packages of French Vanilla Pudding according to direction.

Place 2/3 of coconut mixture into bottom of a 9x13 pan
Spoon pudding on top of coconut mixture.
slice 3 large bananas on top of pudding. (I did 4 just to cover it all!)
Top with cool whip.
Sprinkle remaining coconut mixture on top.
Refrigerate.

ENJOY! :) This is GOOD STUFF! :)

You're so Cheesy...

Cheesy Mostaccioli
16 oz. Mostaccioli cooked and drained
1.5 lbs. Ground Beef (or 1lb. Groud Beef and .5 Sausage)
pepper (fresh ground to taste)
1 TBSP. Italian Seasoning
28 oz. Spaghetti Sauce (I use the Hunts cheap-y sauce and an 8 oz can of tomato sauce with it)
1 can Cheddar Cheese Soup
2 c. Mozzarella Cheese

Mix above ingredients together and place into baking dish.
Top with an additional 1 cup of Cheese.
Bake at 350* for 40 minutes.

I can pretty much guarantee that your kids will LOVE this... unless they're Cole and they hate cheese... :)

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

I LOVE these potatoes. They're the best I've ever made or tasted... I'm just sayin'.
Hope you love them too! Best part? They can be made days in advance. Perfect.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
5 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed (I use Yukon Golds)
5 TBSP butter (divided)
8 oz Cream Cheese
1 c. Sour Cream
1/2 to 1 c. Milk
2 tsp onion salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp. pepper

Cook potatoes in boiling salted water until tender (20-25 minutes)
Drain well.
Mash with 3 Tbsp. butter.
Add remaining ingredients (except remaining butter) and mix well.
Spoon into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
Melt remaining butter and drizzle over top.
Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days.

Bake uncovered 350* for 30-35 minutes or until heated through.
Sprinkle with Seasoning Salt (or pepper in our case) before serving.
ENJOY! :)

Cracked Corn and Cheese Square

(Pict coming soon, but remind me if I forget. LOL!)

Cracked Corn and Cheese Squares
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray via Gabby

Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Yield: 4 + servings
User Rating:
1 (8 1/2-ounce) package corn muffin mix, mixed to package directions
Softened butter, to grease baking dish
1/3 pound Monterey Jack or pepper Jack, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with butter. Stir cheese, corn, and scallions into packaged mixed corn muffin batter.
Pour batter into baking dish and bake at 400 degrees F until golden, 18 minutes.

Pudding Bars...

Crust:
1 cup flour
1 stick butter
2Tbsp Sugar
1/2 c. Pecans

350* for 10-13 minutes
make sure it's just a tad brown.
You want it to be a bit crispy.

Layers:
8oz. Cream Cheese
1c. Powdered Sugar
1c. Cool Whip
Mix together and place on cooled crust.

2pkgs. Pudding
3c. Milk
Mix together and place on top of cream cheese layer

Top with remaining cool whip from a 16oz. container.
Let set up in refrigerator. ENJOY!