"The best times you are going to have in life are at the dinner table and in bed." Old Italian saying. So relax, and enjoy the simple things!

19.10.12

Cheese Raviolis with Pumpkin Sauce: Foodie Friday

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Cheese Raviolis with Pumpkin Sauce
Cheese Raviolis with Pumpkin Sauce

 This looks good right...wrong. I have been in a cooking slump... my magic wand is broken. All my concoctions have turned into toad's stew lately. Probably, because I have been working with apples, pumpkins, and squash... which are not part of my regular "go to" ingredients... also Fall herbs like rosemary and sage are not typical for me to cook with either... 

 I have been trying to make more seasonal meals, and so I have been pushing at my culinary limits... this is all good in the long run, but in the short run I need to come up with recipes for this blog.

 My husband encouraged me to share my most recent cooking failure with you.
"Because you don't want them to think EVERYTHING you make tastes good ALL the time." 

 He is right... if you really want to learn to cook well you do have to take some chances... sometimes they work out really well, and other times... like this sauce... they just come out too sweet.

I had looked at several pumpkin sauce recipes on line. None of them incorporated apples into the recipe. Which I thought would be a great idea because they are so available at this time of year too. 

  I decided to add apple cider to the sauce, thinking it would be like white wine... but more seasonal. Combine with the pumpkin puree...it just made the sauce way too sweet. I did add fresh sage to the recipe, which is an earthy contrast to sweet pumpkin, but it wasn't enough of a balancing agent to off set the apple cider.

 Oh, well I tried and I will try again...
I really just need to keep my cooking in perspective: a ruined dinner is truly not that big of a deal... there is always pizza.


So please check out this recipe, it is the closest to what I was aiming for flavor wise (use about 4 pieces of sage) :

...and enjoy a really delicious seasonal alternative to tomato sauce on your raviolis tonight.



Foodie Friday Features: 

From: My Carolina Kitchen

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup Caribbean Style

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup Caribbean Style

This is soup uses Sherry vinegar which has a fantastic flavor. Combine with pumpkin and black beans you have a right in season satisfying vegetarian meal.


From: Carissa's Food Blog

Chicken with White Bean Enchiladas
Chicken with White Bean Enchiladas
I just love the contrast between the mellow chicken and white beans and the chilies in this recipe. Great for a chilly Fall night.


From: cook with Sara

Caramel Apple Cookies
Caramel Apple Cookies 
What could possibly be better than caramel baked into an apple cookie? I can't think of anything. A perfect Autumn dessert.


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Posted by at 12:00 AM
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41 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting this link party. I’ve just submitted my post about Campfire Desserts at: http://yourcampingexpert.com/10-delicious-campfire-desserts-to-try/

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  2. Believe Diane - cooking is not my best side (baking is) and I don't even cook much/
    I looooooooooove and appreciate your honesty:)

    Thanks for hosting and have a great weekend
    ( Here it's still hot!)

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    1. You are very welcome. Honestly is definitely something I appreciate and respect. How can you really learn if you aren't honest with yourself. So funny, I am a cook not a baker and my husband is the opposite. I think it is a rare person who does both well.

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  3. I am most pleased that you've featured my pumpkin black bean soup. Thank you so much.

    I'm glad you've shared your cooking experience with us. As a new bride I didn't know how to cook. My husband bought me a cookbook and said give it a try. If you make something that isn't good, I'll take you out to eat. We've had to eat out a couple of times, but that deal was the best thing that happened to me. Don't you think Ina Garten or Bobby Flay haven't had failures. I know Bobby has because it was in an interview. He said he was trying to impress his new wife and he screwed up a dish. So, fear no more.

    Thanks for hosting and have a lovely weekend.
    Sam

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    1. It is so true Sam... the best cooks have probably made the worst dishes because they are will to go out on a limb.

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  4. Learning from kitchen failures makes us better cooks. It looks delicious though! Thank you for hosting. Have a great day!

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    1. Yes, at least I got a good picture out of it.

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  5. Thank you for hosting! I have a pumpkin-stuffed shell recipe that I love .... I made it and took pictures, but the pictures are really bad. I could email you the recipe if you'd like it. I may still put it on the blog .... not sure :/

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    1. I think pumpkin inside might be the better way to go... and have a simple cream sauce over them. Put it up on your blog... it's so seasonal.

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  6. Thanks for the party! I am going to have to try the ravioli recipe. They look amazing. I've never had pasta with pumpkin sauce so this is definitely a must try!

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  7. The failures make the successes taste all the better. Okay, not really, but I try to have a positive approach to other people's lives, instead of my normal sarcastic viewpoint. Seriously, you are in good company. If you don't experiment, you can't have any fun. There, that was better, and heartfelt.
    Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks Lisa... I'm from New England I'm better at saying, "Suck it up." then "I feel bad for you." I get were your coming from... Thanks.

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  8. Happy Friday & thanks for hosting! I’m sharing a simple recipe for homemade breakfast sausage. It's way healthier than MSG-loaded-sausage you can buy in stores. And frugal, too!

    http://plusothergoodstuff.blogspot.com/2012/10/frugal-homemade-breakfast-sausage.html

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  9. ah balls! i hate when things don't work out as you had hoped. we all go through it love - and it's particularly frustrating as bloggers because we need content! and food = content! but i think failed food is just as legit as successful food. it makes us human and gives us something relate-able. i did a post a while back - literally all 4 things i tried to make that day were utter disasters. apples + sage are fabulous! just cook em down and rub em on pork or something. lol. xo - i am sending you creative thoughts...

    speaking of pizza: this week i’ve shared a recipe you can use the last of your tomato crop in – margarita pizza! of course, tequila is invited to the party too… obviously. ;)

    p.s. there are still a few more hours to share your seasonal & real/whole food posts with the linky party I host – the Wednesday Fresh Foods Blog Hop – I hope to see you there!

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    1. Thanks Kristy you always make me laugh and feel better... your dish sounds great thanks for stopping by.

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  10. I have so many cooking failures, I am more surprised when things DO turn out! This does look and sound delicious however! I have some apple cider just begging to be used, but I'm thinking donuts! Today I'm linking up a baked spaghetti casserole. Thanks for hosting!

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    1. Donuts is definitely the way to go with the cider sweet not savory. Great to see you here.

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  11. Thanks so much for hosting! Today I am sharing some of my favorite sweet treats! A healthier caramel apple, caramel corn made without refined sugars or HFCS, and a viewers recipe contest and pumpkin cheesecake! Have a great week!

    Here are some more great healthier dessert recipes!
    http://wholelifestylenutrition.com/category/recipes/dessert/

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  12. Hi Diane, thanks so much for hosting, enjoy your weekend :)

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  13. Good morning! Thanks for hosting another party. I love this time of year and love making spicy desserts and side dishes. I have linked up my No Fuss, No Sugar Applesauce (#47) that's easily made in crockpot. I hope you enjoy!
    Rebekah - www.potholesandpantyhose.com

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    1. This is really a great time of year for both bakers and savory cooks, so many interesting fresh ingredients available.

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  14. Don't worry, we all have days like that in the kitchen! Thank you so much for hosting :)

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    1. Thanks April... I've been having 2 weeks of bad dishes... I starting to come out of my rut.

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  15. Hi Diane,
    Well, it sure looks good, I love the color and the concept sounds really good, I am going to see what I can come up with. Today, however, I am sharing my Lemon Meringue Pie, it will make anybody feel better. Hope you are having a great day and thanks for hosting!
    Miz Helen

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    1. Thanks Miz Helen,
      Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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  16. Dear Diane, the ravioli looks delicious! Another beautiful roundup...I am so happy to be a part of it. Have a wonderful weekend. Blessings, Catherine

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  17. Seriously, how cute is Carolina's Kitchen pumpkin bowls? What a cute idea! Oh and the recipe sounds nice too. ;-)

    I'm out of my comfort zone too with pumpkin recipe. My brain wants it to be sweet so I'm always leery of the outcome and taste. I did, however, make a pumpkin chili that turned out fabulous!

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    1. Sam always has the best presentations for her incredible recipes. Good hear I'm not the only one who has issues with pumpkin. I'm sure it's because it is something we only cook with for Oct and Nov.

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  18. Thank you so much for hosting another week. Your link party is always so much fun!

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  19. At least you're willing to give pumpkin a try. Hubby hates pumkin and I'm afraid to go there alone.

    This week I'm sharing three gluten free recipes. Plum Ginger Smoothie, Mojito Quinoa Salad and a recipe round up featuring my Sprouted Lentil Quinoa Salad. Loving quinoa these days :)

    So many great looking recipes linked up here! Looking forward to browsing through them.

    Have a great week!
    Laureen

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    1. My family has really loved the desserts I've made with pumpkin but as diner it's a harder sell. Thanks for stopping by today.

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  20. Diane, we all have failures and you are quite brave to post yours. :) It does look good and good for you to try to cook out of your comfort zone. I get nervous when I do that and sometimes, like you, I was right to be nervous, but other times the effort pays off and the feeling is wonderful! Right? :) Thanks for hosting and have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks mj... I've been cooking a lot out of my comfort zone, especially in the French cooking group I've been in and it is true I have learned a lot. It is harder thought to make recipes out of your comfort zone.

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  21. Lovin' the pumpkin sauce idea! It looks so festive and cheerful.

    This week I shared Beef 'n' Tater Bites. http://www.stealthymom.com/2012/10/beef-n-tater-bites-gluten-free.html

    Thank you for hosting!

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  22. I am glad to hear that I'm not the only one with flops. My friends seem to think everything I make is a masterpiece...ha, ha. This sounds like dish my mom would love...she is a big fan of gnocchi with butternut squash and sage.

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    1. Basically the right idea with the wrong execution.

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  23. I really like the idea of a pumpkin sauce! I should try experimenting more, but I do get afraid of flops.

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  24. Diane,
    So sorry to hear about the flop. It sure looks tasty! I know all about that because I sometimes redo a recipe 3-4 times to get it right before I'll post it. Keep up the experimenting it's what makes cooking fun. Thanks for hosting. Have a great week.
    Michelle

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  25. Oh, I hope you do try to make this again, Diane. The name caught my eye in your side bar when I was commenting on FFwD. It just sounds so delicious and I am sure you will find the right sauce.

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  26. Thank you for adding this to the Sew-licious Pumpkin Recipes! It looks awesome! :) http://sew-licious.blogspot.com/2012/10/sew-licious-pumpkin-recipe-hop.html

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