Pumpkin Ravioli in Brown Butter Sauce with Sage

In the first 3 months after my son was born ( and the month I was on bed rest before he was born) While learning to nurse, snuggling, and recovering from childbirth(Cesarean) I watched lots and lots of law and order( love me some Chris Noth cicra 1990)

... and the cooking network . My favorite was of course Paula Dean cause well cause she is Paula( it was like my mama was right there instead of in Bama).
But in the kitchen I find I like her tips more than her recipes. When put to the test Giada's Everyday Itailian had the recipes that worked time and time again. they suited mine and daddy's taste best. (my mother in-law , who is a master in the kitchen loves Ina and does well tweaking her recipes but I did not have as good of luck). Any way I learned a lot of smart things from that skinny Italian girl Anyone who pushes Nutella as this lady does is alright by me (no matter how skinny she is) . The first was something I tried for valentines; which was chocolate raviolis using wonton wrappers for the pasta and Nutella for the filling. Very delish,very very yummy.
So then My mom got me Giada's book Everyday Italian
and I must say I use it even more that my Loretta Lynn cookbook,"you're cookin' it country"


The great thing about Giada's book is that the recpies are easy to make your own . She has a great marinara that I keep stocked in my freezer, I also use the brown butter sauce recipe(below), on all kinds of pasta.
So what is this post about? Well I had about half of my sugar pumpkin puree' left from the pumpkin zucchini bread I made last week. It was getting past the stage of being able to freeze it. So I decide to make some pumpkin raviolis. Giada actually has a recipe in her book for this but she bought the pumpkin raviolis. I bought some about a month ago and they were so bland that daddy was a little testy during dinner( no meat and bland raviolis).
So anyway I started doing a little recipe hunt and found these beautiful photos of ravioli using wonton wrappers also, on Wandering Chopsticks. This recipe seemed a little too bland for the discerning taste buds of my man so I searched on and found one from Martha.
This one looked interesting but I did not have the Locatelli cheese..and my food budget was already in the fridge this week. So I decided to wing it and the recipe below is what I came up with.

Pumpkin Ravioli

Wonton wrappers
1/12 c fresh pumpkin puree’
1/2tsp kosher salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper
1/4c fresh grated Parmesan
2-3 Tb brown sugar
1 tb fresh chopped sage
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Brown Butter Sauce with Sage
from my memory of Giada's Everyday Itailian
recipe
6-8 sage leaves torn into pieces
One stick of salted butter (yummy)
Pinch nutmeg
Salt
Pepper
1/2 c grated Parmesan
Adapted from everyday Italian
Cook butter on med heat till pale about 4-6 minutes
Add sage leaves fry in butter till crisp (about 2-3 minute)
Add salt pepper and nutmeg
Add ravioli then toss in cheese and serve
Garnish with Parmesan and fresh pepper

~As you can see I use about half a teaspoon of the filling in each wrapper
~Then brush one side with egg wash or water if you are out of eggs and fold over into a little triangle and crimp the edges lightly with a fork.~ This amount of filling made about 35-40 raviolis. I did not take photos last night...because honestly I did not have a lot of faith in the recipe I also only made half of the raviolis(for the same reason). So today I made the rest and froze them . ~I also made 2 for Burger's lunch at his request. I didn't bother to make sauce for these; I just put a pat of butter and some Parmesan on them and called it lunch.

~I was surprised to find that they tasted even better today after sitting in the fridge all night I guess the filling reached a peak flavor... Anyway I was very excited and so I am sharing.

Back in the Saddle again!!

I will be back (finally)at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market this saturday nov 8th. Joining me is my crafty compadre Blue mama....yay!!!***I am gonna give a little preview~ lots of photos little words(hopefully)***

~Size 7 super cute sporty panties (I have several pairs of undies)

~all the materials for this apron (except the thread ) were recycled

~Same(all recycled materials ) for this cute toteI love the woven piece I used for the strap
And the bouquet of vintage buttons on the front pocket




...and also on that pocket, a the little doggy train (not that kind of doggy train)

~I have two little chick aprons this half apron on sky blue tiny chord
and a full chic Apron not shown


~I will have a fresh crop of Raglan style t-shirts with cap sleeves... and also 3/4 length sleeves.Ranging in size and color combos(besides freddy kruger)~I have my Market style pocket skirts in 4 sizes and in tweeds and cuteypie chords


~I also have lots of pincushions
and other little surprises!
The weather is supposed to be perfect in Austin on Saturday! 82 and not a cloud in the sky. The best weather possible for an open air market; we are spoiled( 3 months out of 12), so let's enjoy it!

Inspiration....Bonnie Cashin

I Looked up Bonnie Cashin today after seeing her coat in the latest 'Country Living'. She was an incredible talent, and smart as they come. I Love her attitude and spunk not to mention her incredible visionary outlook on life and fashion.

'Of her copyists, she shrugged off as much of the frustration as she could, realizing “the moment you think an idea, it is no longer yours exclusively,” and declaring “let them be copyists – let us be better.


Bonnie Cashin, Vogue cover, 1927
Cashin deliberately secured purse to skirt, blending common-sense utility and security. No mugger would be able to steal this purse!

Cashin’s oft-stated credo, "chic is where you find it," summed up her belief that a “habit of wonder” and an ability to see relationships between objects and ideas far removed from the fashion world were vital tools for the generative designer. Rather than look at fashion history, she was apt to cite the rhythm of poetry, a new mathematical theorem, or a bird’s nest as inspiration. That Cashin avoided gimmickry, and instead imaginatively translated these unrelated source materials into decades of consistent, connected, and highly functional garments, is a testament to her belief that the enthusiastic pursuit of individuality is always timeless.'

Creative Director, The Bonnie Cashin Foundation

Randy Rogers my latest country choice

My new favorite country album is Randy Rogers latest self titled offering.


Although this may make most never even give this album a try I have to say That the Track " one woman" sends me back somewhere between Alabama's "feels so right" and Bryan Adams' "straight from the heart" ~Very very slow dances in my middle school gym hoping one of the "Brents" would ask me to dance. Now you know how old I am and what an awkward tween I was.
Anyway I think my taste is a little more discerning as a full grown woman and this album is great.

Happy Birthday Gram ...your music lives on Thank goodness

"Gram Parsons was born Cecil Ingram Connors on November 5, 1946 in Winterhaven, Florida
He as the was the godfather of two sub-genres of country music, alt.country and country rock, or what he coined as “cosmic American music.) He was also the man that brought Emmylou Harris from folk to country music and led Keith Richards toward country music that showed up as influences on Exile on Main Street and Sticky Fingers. Gram’s legacy can still be felt today and many artists owe him a debt of gratitude." Twang Nation

Tanto, I love you and Frida!

At the Maker Faire before I had to bail, I met the craftiest little couple out of Houston. The lady (of the male and female craft duo) runs a sweet crafty blog called Tanto. The encounter was quite hazy until I saw my gal pal blue mama rockin' one of Tanto's super fabulous, President Elect Obama, brooches. That is when I remembered that the lady I met had been wearing a Frida brooch that I coveted the moment I spotted it. So not only had Blue mama managed to grab a brooch, she also got contact info( she is smart as whip I tell you). I let Tanto know I wanted one of those beautiful Frida brooches and within a week it arrived at my house!!! She made it specifically for me !It came beautifully packaged(always thrilling)...and is super sturdy and well made!!! My new Frida embellishment came just in time for our trip to San Antonio~ I sported it all over that river walk! ( Gotta love a timely accessory)I love it and I definitely need more! I am sure if you(and who wouldn't) wanted one for yourself you could contact her via Her etsy ,or her blog, and she could accommodate you.
(~don't you just love her fabulous style)

halloween ( i know it was days ago)

On Halloween this year, I really put everything off till the last minute; because I have been on sort of a 'make' hiatus since the Faire( who am I kidding ...I always procrastinate)

First we went to Memee's and hung out with our cousin (strong man), Burger stayed for a few hours, while mama and Dada went to a party. They were both a little spooked by the trick or treaters and( I was spooked by our party host;see photo below) I made an elephant costume for him (what else for my L'fant freak). Daddy thought I should have been a little more realistic...oh well burger seem to really like it( he would not take it off..)This photo was taken on Monday he still wearing it, I just basted everything on so I could reuse the hoody for a Robot screen print(coming soon) but maybe we will get just another. Usually we have a big party at our house in celebration of Halloween and Dada's b-day this year it moved to Burger's God daddy's bachelor pad( because of my nagging little voice). Dada and I were Popeye and Olive Oly
Dada decided to hold my mama belly in the only clear shot. I scolded him later and he said well "well I was gonna grab your tits and I thought no I will grab her kitty and I thought No so I was stuck in between " I personally felt either would have been a better choice considering here I seem preggers...oh well gotta love the mama belly right?I like this photo better you know I like em blurry...hides the mama belly

~For Popeye's arms we used stockings, stuffed with batting and used xtra stuffing to make his bulges( in his arms ladies)...ooh lala

~I am really happy with this olive Oyl shirt This is definitely a new addition to my raglan repertoire. I altered my sporty jersey raglan pattern. I lengthed sleeves and made a bit of a boat neck with elastic lace at the neck and sleeves. I have lots of this elastic lace for my under garments sew I am pretty excited about having a new application for it

~I also hung with my gal pal



~The Morton salt girl.....cutey pie


~and a badmitten set minus the net( they made this themselves)

~one of my favs a plug and a receptacle
~ our rival Popeye and Olive ....arg

~And of course the scary host (even his lady was scared of him)

~After dropping me and burger off at home , Dada went back to get his birthday drink on(no driving) and most of the pictures (all 3 or 4 ) were like this~ our host trying to give away his implants.
oooooh scary....