PUMPKIN RAVIOLI RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray an 8x8 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
• Mix the ricotta cheese, spinach, 1 1/2 cups Romano cheese, eggs, salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.
• To assemble the lasagna, spread 1/4 cup of spaghetti sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish, and place frozen raviolis on top in a single layer. Spread about 1 cup of the ricotta mixture over the raviolis. Repeat the layers 3 more times, ending with a layer of frozen raviolis. Spread with 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce, and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of Romano cheese on top. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, until the casserole is bubbling. Then remove the aluminum foil, and bake another 10 minutes to brown the cheese on top. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Pour flour mixture out onto a clean surface. Using your hands, make a well in center of flour. Crack eggs into well and use a fork to slowly whisk flour into eggs until a shaggy dough forms. Use your hands to knead dough until smooth and no longer sticky, about 5 minutes. Add flour to surface as necessary to keep dough from sticking. Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  Meanwhile, make filling: drain pumpkin by placing in a fine mesh strainer set inside a large bowl. Cover exposed pumpkin with plastic wrap, then place a small bowl on top to lightly press pumpkin. Let drain 15 minutes. When pumpkin has drained, transfer to a medium bowl. Add parmesan, egg yolk, sugar, and nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine. When ready to roll pasta, cut dough into quarters. Wrap all but 1 back in plastic wrap and place back in the refrigerator.  On a lightly floured surface, roll uncovered dough into a long rectangle about 1/4” thick. Set pasta maker to widest setting and pass the rolled out dough through 2 times. Fold short ends of dough to meet in center of rectangle, then fold in half so that the dough is in quarters. Roll out again so the dough is 1/4” thick, then pass through pasta maker 2 more times.  Reduce setting by one degree. Repeat process of rolling and folding 2 to 3 times before going to the next setting. Repeat this process all the way to the thinnest setting. If your pasta sheet becomes too long to work with, cut it in half. Repeat with remaining dough in refrigerator. Keep rolled out dough covered with a clean kitchen towel.  Lay one piece of dough out on a lightly floured surface. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of filling every 1 inch. Using your finger, lightly wet in between each pile of filling with water. Gently lay a second piece of dough on top and press between filling to seal, making sure to press out as much air as possible. (Air trapped in the ravioli will force them to the surface when boiling.) Using a biscuit cutter or knife, cut between each pocket to make individual ravioli. If desired, use fork tines to seal ravioli shut. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Refrigerate until ready to cook.  When ready to serve, melt butter in a medium skillet. Add pumpkin seeds and cook, swirling pan occasionally, until pumpkin seeds are toasted and butter is browned and smells nutty, 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more, then remove pan from heat. In a large pot of boiling salted water, working in batches, add ravioli and cook until tender, about 1 ½ minutes. Use a spider to remove from water and place directly in brown butter. Gently toss to coat. Serve warm with Parmesan.