Pumpkin Pasta with Pine Nuts and Goat Cheese
I get up a little before 6 am and take my two labradors for an hour long walk. Then I go to work, where I spent a good nine or ten hours of the day. When I get home, I cook dinner, eat dinner, do house chores, pay bills, answer emails and occasionally find the time to blog. The blogging is a whole different affair altogether. There’s cooking, taking photos, writing, editing and because these things don’t come as naturally to me, even more editing. I admit, I do find it difficult to juggle everything and hardly find time for anything else.
Once on holiday I bought a book on how to be more philanthropic but sadly, after the holiday I never got past the first two chapters.
I’m glad though I gave the book a second chance. The book is filled with simple, practical things we can all do during the work day to make a difference. Many of these things seem very small, but do really have far reaching consequences. Some are even fun to do:
- Leave work on time at least once a week
- Praise people
- Share your lunch with someone
- Lose the plastic cup
- Speak rather than email
- Smile when you answer the phone
If you’re interested to “Change the World 9 to 5” or are just interested more to learn about it – I’ve stumbled upon this website. Small action x Lots of people = BIG CHANGES. Have a look – and tell me – what small actions will you be doing today?
Fresh Pasta with Pumpkin, Pine Nuts and Goat Cheese
Serves 4
- 400 grams fresh pasta (a recipe can be found here)
- 30 ml olive oil
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 500 grams peeled and cubed pumpkin (I used Japanese pumpkin variety)
- 50 grams mascarpone
- 50 grams pine nuts, toasted
- 75 grams goat cheese, crumbed
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and saute the onions over low heat until translucent (around 5 minutes). Add some salt and pepper as well.
- Add the pumpkin to the pan and continue to cook for around 20 or so minutes until the pumpkin is soft enough such that you can mash it with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Using a stick blender or food processor, blend the pumpkin/onion mixture until smooth and then add the mascarpone. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
- Toss the pumpkin sauce over fresh pasta and serve with toasted pine nuts and crumbed goat cheese.
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I totally know what you mean about being time poor. Blogging is a luxury I can rarely afford but it makes me happy and I spend long hours at work too. Given those long hours, having friends there or at least like minded people is so important and I find sharing the walk to grab a coffee with someone once or twice a week or sharing lunch when you can makes the day bearable. Life is too short and we spend too much of it at work for us to not find some satisfaction in it.
Words of wisdom right there. I don’t know how you pack in such a full life! But it’s true, smiling and all the little things can make a world of differences.
It is amazing how making little changes in your life can have huge effects – not just for yourself but for all those around you. Thanks for reminding me about this.. it is easy to get carried away when you’re always so busy, and forget to assess just exactly HOW you are living your life.
This pasta dish looks amazing. I love the combination of pumpkin and goats cheese and the photo is fantastic.
I’d love for you to submit one of your beautiful photos, and a link to your post, to my new vegetarian food photo gallery showcasing beautiful and flavorful vegetarian food.
Thanks! Will have a look at your site shortly! 🙂
Sadly I am not a fan of goat’s cheese at all. Beside that the dish looks delicious, may try this one but substitute with feta.
Beautiful golden color and gorgeous flavors. Sounds like the perfect fall dinner to me. My boyfriend occasionally reminds me not to complain so much even when things frustrate me, so I’m trying to think more about the things I am lucky to have and appreciate them regularly.
salty, tangy goat cheese and crunchy pine nuts are the perfect ingredients for your gorgeous fresh pasta–bravo!
Your pumpkin pasta is beautiful and really brings out the flavours of autumn. Love the site you linked to and great reminder for myself too.
This dish sounds so interesting…and delicious! I have never had a pumpkin sauce!
Sounds like a good book too…I agree that little things can make a big difference 🙂
The pasta looks great. I need to keep an eye for that book. I know a few people that needs that type of inspiration.
I thought you were changing the world that’s why you cooked this pasta.. because it does seem something different.. pumkin and pasta.. not a common combinition 😛
I like your little stories of life that comes with the recipes. But I think I’d told you before. 🙂
I’m kind of obsessed with fresh pasta these days. Never tried it with pumpkin. This sounds delicious!
MMm Trissa, this looks so good. A beautiful vegetarian dish 🙂
I was wondering… was making this pasta for a fellow blogger included in the book about how to change the world? I think it should be 😛 hehe
So delish! I am thinking that I might fry some sage leaves to a nice crisp and add then crumble them over the top of this pasta with a small scattering of minced thyme too.
And perhaps a crumble of bacon … but that might be WAY over the top. = )
The recipe looks yummy… and I can totally relate to your day – minus the two big dogs to walk. I get up before 6 and do my e-mails before leaving in the am and am at work by 7:30 for sure… and on and on. As an educator, the smiling is natural. I have set goals throughout life to empower others, as that is my career. I love your post today. Yesterday, I had a young gal over to bake pies with. I have made it a goal to pay it forward as much as I can. Today, another young man is coming over to help me with my technology issues and I have prepared a little bag of homemade treats for him to take home as a little surprise. I love doing things like this. I don’t always do them as consciously as I used to when I was younger, but I have definitely learned through my life that you get what you give and if you give joy and positive energy to others, that is usually what you get back to fuel you for more.
You are inspiring, Trissa!
Aww Val – thank you! This means a lot to me.
Wow- you’re so disciplined! “occasionally” find time to blog? You post often enough my friend and always so quality 🙂
The book sounds awesome. Today I will endeavour to smile at a stranger and thank my mum for something I’m actually grateful for (but wouldn’t admit as a teenager) ❤
There’s a part of the recipe that says:
“400 grams fresh pasta (a recipe can be found here)”
but there’s no link, so I can’t actually figure out how to make fresh pasta. I mean, I’m sure I can look it up, and I probably will because the recipe sounds delicious, but just thought you should know that it appears as though there should be a link there, and there isn’t.
-Luke
Thanks for pointing this out Luke! Yes I have now added the link. Great spot!
This pasta dish is right up my alley, it’s got all the flavours I really go for.
*kisses* HH
The book sounds very interesting and I’m putting it on my wish list – perhaps I’ll even buy it for myself. Somehow the world seems to be moving much too quickly for me.
As for the pasta, it looks amazing. I do hope you plan on sharing any one of your pasta dishes with Presto Pasta Nights – a weekly roundup of delicious pastas from bloggers from around the world. http://www.prestopastanights.com
I like this one – “Leave work on time at least once a week”!!! 🙂
Gorgeous pasta ! And, what do you mean all this blogging doesn’t come easy to you??!! This post being case in point!
Another way to change the world: spread joy through blogging (though maybe not during work hours!)
And yum, the goats cheese pasta looks so delicious.
For me, maybe eat some veg =P Love the colour! Great combo.
Looks delicious. I did a similar sauce lately, but with Gnocchi.
olá!!uma receita,pratica,deliciosa,uma otima sugestão,seu amor pela culinária transpassa suas receitas ,parabéns!!por partilhar,sua fã
Trissa, I tend to agree – Life is not a big deal, it is the little things that makes it big.
That is a great website!
MMMMMMMMM,..this pasta dish looks magnificent & pretty too!
I love that book from your husband. It has great ideas in it!
ooops, you know I meant “change the WORLD” haha 🙂
What a nice post to remind us that the simple things we do can mean so much, even change the word. Even a combination of simple things: pasta, pumpkin, pinenuts & cheese can make up a great dish!
I love it Trissa, great rules to live by. What I’m asking myself these days is when did it become the unspoken mandatory to work an extra couple of hours a day at your job. Recently I’ve been making a point of heading home….., no matter what….. within an hour of when my work officially is meant to finish & guess what…., the world is still turning & everything is getting done (well., so far)!!!
I think I’ll work harder on ‘speak rather than email’ & ‘Praise people’ this week….,
Have a great week 🙂
I don’t know how you squeeze so much in a day but I know what keeps you going with your food blog – passion.
I’m always an advocate that even the smallest nice or helpful thing you do counts. I’m amazed at how fabulous your blog is despite your limited time!
Leaving work on time is what we don’t do enough. 🙂 Well, today I shall leave work on time. Walk in this nice weather to the train station. 🙂
I read somewhere once, “Perform a random act of kindness each day.” I try to live by this but, of course, the occasion doesn’t always arise and sometimes it’s not within social norms to do so. I offered a pack of tissues to a girl some years ago who was crying on the train – it seems like such a small gesture but she returned such a look of gratitude, like it was the most comforting thing for her at the time.
oooh i like this whole small steps, big changes thing. it’s so true, if people would just be just a hair nicer, the world would be a better place. at least our workplaces, anyways.
small action today is uh, to say happy bday to a coworker 🙂
thx for the post.