Pumpkin, Pesto Pasta

We have allot of pumpkins at the moment that need using so while lying awake in my freezing bed last night, I came up with this idea. It sure looks yummo and it tastes it too!

Roasted Pumpkin

12 cups       diced pumpkin (1cm cubes)

1/4 cup        olive oil

1 T              cumin

1 T              paprika

1 T              sea salt

Combine all ingredients and roast in the oven until cooked and crispy.

Pesto

2 cups       parsley (pack it into the cup)

2 cups       cashews

3 large      garlic cloves

1 t             sea salt

2 T            lemon juice

1/2 cup     olive oil

water as needed

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add water as needed to make into a soft paste constancy. (thinner is better then thicker for this recipe because it can be hard to mix through the pasta.)

Cook 750g packet of pasta according to directions

Mix cooked pumpkin and pesto through the pasta and sprinkle a handful of pine nuts on the top.

(could be made gluten free if you used a rice pasta or corn pasta)

Baby Polenta Pizza's

Look yummy? Yeah, thats what I thought too. Mum got these 'egg rings' (I think that's what they are called) the other day and immediately I had this recipe idea. Unfortunately I got halfway through before I realised that I should have been writing the recipe out. So I'll tell ya what I did kinda but if you want the recipe proper, you'll have to wait until I make them again.

• I made a thick, savoury seasoned polenta mixture and spooned it into egg-rings to create the bases.
• I topped it with tomato paste.
• I sautéed onion, capsicum, eggplant and zucchini and put that on top.
• Then I put some grated tofu (optional)
• And soya cheese on the top. 
• Then I just grilled them until the cheese melted.

YUM YUM YUM!!!!

I shall be making these again!

Buckwheat & Rosemary Patties

Ok people, don't read the title; don't read the ingredients; listen to my spiel first. This is one of those Facebook recipes that you see floating around and always think I'm gonna try that someday and never do. Well I've done it for you! I must say, that if it wasn't for the redeeming rosemary flavour, I might have scrapped these but as it is, I think it's an acquired taste that might take a bit of getting used to. But, my brother seemed to think they were pretty good. Ignore the fact that it has buckwheat in it - you can't taste it in the end and really, these are quite healthy!

Buckwheat & Rosemary Patties

1 cup           cooked buckwheat (1/2 cup dry makes a bit over 1 cup)

1/2 cup        rolled oats

1 cup           pecans

1 Tbs           unfermented soy sauce (braggs)

1 tsp            onion powder

1 tsp            garlic powder

2 tsp            salt

2 Tbs          fresh parsley (can used dried)

1 Tbs          fresh rosemary (can used dried)

2 Tbs          fresh thyme (can used dried)

1 tsp            paprika

1 Tbs          yeast flakes

1 Tbs          water

1 Tbs          olive oil

2 tsp           honey

Method

1. combine all ingredients except buckwheat in a food processor and blend until nuts are ground
2. place cooked buckwheat in a bowl and add blended mixture to it
3. mix well (mixture will be quite sticky)
4. form into patties or 'links' and fry in an oiled nonstick frypan until brown

"Nutmeat"

Nutmeat. You can buy it; it's expensive. You can make it; but some recipes you have to boil with forks and spoons or something ridiculous like that. Then there's the more simple recipes; but they're crumbly. I've tried em all and I had a favourite but then one day I couldn't find that recipe and I came across this one that was hidden in a "Nut Roast with Lemon and Garlic Stuffing" recipe. Ahhh... now I have a new favourite. Yes, it's weird. The method and even the ingredients but....it's good!

Nutmeat

1 1/2 C     dry breadcrumbs
1 lg           onion, chopped finely 
3 T           gravy powder
1 T           yeast flakes (optional)
1 1/4 C     ground nuts (sunflower seeds, walnuts and peanuts are great)
300ml       water
1/2 t          salt
1 t             stock powder (optional)

Method

1. Saute onion until soft.
2. Add water and gravy powder.
3. Combine remaining ingredients and pour gravy mixture over the top.
4. Mix well.
5. Spoon into a lined loaf tin, empty cans or roll in baking paper and then in foil.
6. Bake in the oven at 180° for an hour.
7. Let cool.
8. Slice to serve!

(Sorry about the terrible pics - my camera battery was flat and I had to use my phone :)