Pumpkin Pasta with Sausage and Wild Mushrooms

For a few weeks, I was on a serious mission to find a good pumpkin pasta recipe. I finally found one! This recipe turned out to be a pleasant surprise (created by Rachel Ray). I thought this was a creative and unique way to have pasta without your normal pasta sauce. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak a serving of vitamin-rich vegetables into dinner without tipping off the kids! Aren’t you curious just from looking at the ingredient list? (If you don’t like sausage, you can always use ground turkey/chicken/beef.)

Ingredients:
➢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
➢ 1 lb bulk sweet Italian sausage (we used sausage with sage, which works well, too)
➢ 1/4 lb shiitake mushroom caps (we used button mushrooms)
➢ 2 portabella mushroom caps, halved and thinly sliced
➢ 3 garlic cloves, minced
➢ 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (I used a red onion)
➢ Salt, Black Pepper
➢ 1/2 cup dry white wine
➢ 1 cup chicken stock
➢ 1 14oz can Pumpkin (100% pumpkin, not pie filling)
➢ 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
➢ 2-3 tablespoons fresh sage, thinly sliced
➢ 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
➢ A pinch of ground cinnamon
➢ 3/4 lb penne pasta

Let’s get started! First, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat a deep skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat. Add and brown the sausage and crumble it with a wooden spoon. Push the sausage over to one side of the pan and add the mushrooms, garlic and onion. Cook until the mushrooms are brown. Season with salt and pepper.

When your pasta water begins to boil, add the pasta and a dash of salt and cook according to package directions.

Combine the veggies and sausage and pour in the wine to deglaze the pan. Cook for a minute or two. Add the chicken stock and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Stir in the pumpkin slowly. Once it is incorporated, add the cream, sage, nutmeg and cinnamon. Adjust the salt and pepper if necessary, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 min to let the flavors meld together.

When the pasta is finished, drain the water and add to the sausage mixture. To serve, plate the pasta and top with the cheese and chives!
Enjoy!