Butternut Squash & Hazelnut Spaghetti

We seem to be eating quite a lot of pasta at the moment, whether it be spaghetti, penne or fusilli, I always have a packet or three in the cupboards ready to make a quick family meal. I like to try different flavours, although the kids do prefer a simple tomato sauce or bolognaise and grated cheese.

Myself and the husband really liked this dish, although the kids complained either that they didn't like the nuts or the butternut squash - I will give them that simple tomato sauce next time!

 

Butternut Squash & Hazelnut Spaghetti - serves 4/5

1 medium butternut squash, peeled (reserve the seeds)

3 tbsp Hazelnut oil

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp dried rosemary

500g dried pasta

handful of roasted hazelnuts, chopped

for the toasted seeds

reserved seeds

hazelnut oil

pinch of sea salt

pinch of dried rosemary

• Dice the butternut squash into 1cm pieces
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan
• Add the butternut squash, garlic & rosemary to the pan and fry gently for 2 minutes
• Place a lid on and cook for 10-15 minutes until the squash is softened but still has a bite
• Cook the spaghetti as per directions on the pack
• In the meantime toss the reserved seeds in a little oil & sprinkle with salt & rosemary
• Lay onto a baking tray and bake in a preheated 180C oven for 8-10 minutes or until crispy
• Once the spaghetti is cooked drain it and add 3 tbsp of the cooking water to the butternut squash
• Toss  the spaghetti into the butternut squash pan with the roasted hazelnuts
• Serve with a few of the toasted seeds on top

This is my entry into the Maison Maille Blogger Challenge - I received a bottle of Maille Hazelnut oil to use in the challenge

Pasta with Broccoli & Peas

I've been trying out the Degustabox surprise boxes now for a few months and have generally been pleased with their contents (apart from a blip in January's box). This month was another pleasing month with many useful items.

The box included the following :

Drink Me Chai Latte Chocolate & Tea Latte

Moma! porridge pots

Mexican Dave's Cheese Nachos

Organico Durum wheat pasta

Tyrells Popcorn sweet & salty

Shaken Udder milkshakes

Schwartz flavour shots

Organico tomato & basil sauce

The kids loved both the porridge pots and milkshakes, I loved the popcorn and wished there was more and we all loved sharing the bag of nachos. I don't normally like cheese nachos as they can sometimes be a bit too cheesy, but these weren't overpowering and were just right. I used the tomato sauce stirred through spaghetti for a quick midweek dinner and the pasta and schwartz flavour shot in the recipe below.

   

This recipe is an adaptation of a delicious sounding (and so much more visually appealing) recipe on Gourmet Mum's blog for Broccoli & Pancetta Pasta.

Pasta with Broccoli & Peas - serves 4/5

500g dried pasta (I used Organico Durum Wheat Penne Pasta)

1 head of broccoli, cut into small pieces

Schwartz Flavour shot - Italian Creamy herb

150g frozen peas, defrosted

Extra Virgin olive oil

• Cook the pasta according to the directions on the pack, adding the broccoli into the pan too
• Drain the pasta & broccoli, reserving some of the cooking water, and fish out the broccoli
• Heat a large pan and add the flavour shot along with a couple of tablespoons of the reserved cooking water, fry gently for a couple of minutes
• Add the broccoli and mash with a potato masher, adding more water & olive oil as required
• Add the peas and cooked pasta and stir through the sauce

If you fancy trying out the Degustabox you can get a £3 discount at the checkout by using the code : EI6QH

Degustabox website

Degustabox Facebook
Degustabox Twitter

I was provided with a Degustabox for the purpose of this review