Rigatoni with Squash and Prawns

This is from the kitchen of Giada DeLaurentis. I LOOVE her Italian foods. She does awesome work and is usually pretty reasonable with her time and ingredients list.

Anyway, this is a great one for fall with the squash and garlic! mmmm..

Ingredients

* 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons
* 1 pound butternut squash, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 teaspoon salt, plus 1 teaspoon
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus 1/2 teaspoon
* 1 cup vegetable stock
* 1 pound rigatoni
* 1 pound prawns, peeled and deveined
* 3/4 to 1 cup whole milk
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

Warm 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butternut squash, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Saute until the squash is golden and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the vegetable stock, bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the squash is very soft, another 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the squash mixture to a blender or food processor and puree.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.

Meanwhile, warm the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the prawns with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Add the prawns to the pan and cook until just pink, about 3 minutes.

In a large pot over low heat combine the cooked pasta, pureed squash mixture, and 3/4 cup milk. Stir to combine. Add the remaining 1/4 cup milk if the sauce needs to be moistened. Add the cooked prawns, basil, and cheese. Stir until warm and serve.

Fruit Pizza

This Recipe is from What's Cooking America... so good!!

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes

Ingredients:
* 1 (18-ounce) package refrigerated cookie dough
* 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
* 1/3 cup sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or other flavoring (almond, orange, or lemon)
* Fresh blueberries, banana slices, mandarin orange sections, seedless grapes, strawberry halves, kiwifruit (or any other fruit you want really....
* 1/2 cup orange, peach, or apricot preserves (to make glaze - optional)
* 1 Tablespoon water

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line an ungreased 14-inch pizza pan with cookie dough cut in 1/8-inch slices, overlapping slightly. Bake 12 minutes or until light brown; remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract or other flavoring; spread over cookie crust. Arrange fruit over cream cheese layer in any design you want (use your imagination).

In a small saucepan over very low heat, make a glaze by heating preserves and water. Brush glaze over fruit, making sure to cover the fruit that will turn dark. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Note: This does not keep well, so plan on using it up. You may also use your own sugar cookie recipe in place of the refrigerated dough.

Makes 8 to 10 servings

Gyoza

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground sausage browned
1/2 a cabbage head finely chopped
1 yellow onion finely chopped
garlic to taste
1/4 cup soy sauce (more to taste)
1 package Amazuya (or any other brand) Gyoza or pot-sticker wraps
Oil to fry.

Directions:
Brown Sausage in a frying pan or wok with about a teaspoon of minced garlic. add onions until cooked. Add cabbage and allow to cook before adding soy sauce and more garlic to your taste. stir all together and remove from heat. Put a small spoonful in the middle of one Gyoza wrapper. Dip your finger in water and run your finger around the edge of the gyoza. Now fold the two sides together and pinch with fingers or press with the edge of a fork until sealed tight. Place gyozas into a pan with hot oil and fry until barely browned on both sides. Remove and place on paper towel to absorb oil. Layer as necessary depending on how many gyoza you have made. Enjoy!
**I like transferring the meat and onion and garlic to a large pot before adding cabbage to let it cook down so its easier to stir around.