BUTTERNUT SQUASH RICOTTA PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Coat a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
• Place squash on prepared baking sheet; roast until tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Place in a large bowl and mash.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. After squash has been roasting for about 10 minutes, cook pasta according to package directions; drain and return to pot.
• In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, flour, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking frequently; reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in mashed squash and 2 1/2 teaspoons of thyme. Add sauce to pasta; toss to mix and coat.
• Transfer pasta mixture to prepared baking dish; dot with spoonfuls of ricotta and then sprinkle with Parmesan and walnuts. Bake until top is lightly browned in a few spots, about 15 to 20 minutes; remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of thyme.

Steps:

• Both the Ricotta and Butternut filling can be made beforehand and frozen, cutting down on prep time.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Line a large baking sheet with aluminium foil and coat with cooking spray.
• With a strong knife remove the stem from the squash.
• Slice the squash in half end-to-end and remove and discard the pulp and seeds.
• Cut each portion in half creating four pieces which are about the same size.
• Place the squash wedges on the baking sheet with the cut side up.
• Coat each piece of squash with butter and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover the wedges with aluminum foil and cook in the oven for 45 minutes.
• Remove the wedges from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Remove the flesh from the skin and mash in a medium bowl adding a pinch of nutmeg.
• In a large bowl combine the ricotta, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons of your pesto,1/4 cup of your parmesan, salt and pepper to taste as well as a little bit of nutmeg.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add pasta shells cooking for 8 minutes (until al-dente).
• Drain pasta and cool in cold water, drain again of all water.
• In a 9x13 inch casserole dish pour tomato sauce and water adding the 2 tablespoons of remaining pesto.
• Divide and stuff the mashed squash into the bottom part of the pasta shells.
• Top the squash with the ricotta mixture, stuffing the pasta shells as full as you can.
• Set the stuffed pasta shells stuffed side up on top of the tomato sauce.
• Sprinkle the shells with the remaining parmesan cheese.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake for 10-15 minutes more, or until the pasta is golden on top.