Pumpkin pasta?!

Well hello again friends!  Seems like we just left each other

As expected, the rest of the afternoon included a sugar cookie adventure! 

We started it off by making a big mess

Then cut out some fun shapes & baked ‘em up

And got to decoratin’!  Yes, we are outta control

It was actually much more entertaining than I initially anticipated   Plus I used my mom’s trick for icing to make some pastel colors (I’m such a girl haha) — confectioner’s sugar, water + food coloring and ta-da!

Check out the day’s spread…  phew what-a-day!

Whoa crazy lights?!?!?

And we haven’t even gotten to dinner yet *gasp*!!!  So what is it you ask?

Baked Ziti w/ Pumpkin & Chicken Sausage!

I found this recipe on the Libby’s site and was really exited to try it, of course I made a few changes based on our tastes (gahhhh alwayssss haha)

Key players:

• 1 package whole wheat penne
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can pumpkin
• 2 tblps flour
• red pepper flakes
• nutmeg
• salt and pepper
• 1 tsp EVOO
• 1 can fat free evaporated milk
• Al Fresco Italian chicken sausages
• Mozzarella cheese
• Grated Parm

First up I sauteed the garlic in some EVOO (what is it about garlic/EVOO that smells soooo gooood?!?!)

Then added the pumpkin, red pepper flakes, nutmeg and salt/pepper to taste.

Then it was time to gradually add the FF evaporated milk, stirring to mix through.

While the pasta was cooking away (per directions) I sliced up the chicken sausages, added these to the sauce plus about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

Then it was time to combine the drained, cooked pasta and sauce

Transfer to a baking dish (cooking spray) and bake for about 15 minutes at 400F covered with foil.  Top with mozzarella and parm cheese, bake another 5 minutes uncovered and voila!

Serve with some broccoli & cauliflower topped with a lil’ more cheese, since if you noticed I omitted the spinach from the original recipe  (The Man hates spinach – Popeye hater what?!)

Whose is whose?!?!   (grammar class for me ha!)

All served up

I really liked this recipe!  I was also a bit worried that The Man may not love it – WRONG   He loved too!  Plus he raved about the frozen veggies… with the “different cheese” that I added to the mix   Winner winner pumpkin sneak attack dinner!

Alright, movie time for us and time for me to get outta the kitchen!  Well except grabbing some cookies for dessert ehh hmmmm…. 

Have a wonderful night friends and see you tomorrow — hopefully there will be some car purchasin’ in this girl’s near future (aka tomorrow since if not then I am technically “car-less”!)

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