pumpkin gnocchi
for this dinner party get together i was half worried i had gotten over ambitious. the menu included homemade pumpkin gnocchi, a fall spinach salad, and for dessert a pear-apple tart. gnocchi is one of those wonderful things potato dumpling pasta, yes, yes and more please. and i soon discovered actually very easy to make.
the guest list included the hargiss siblings, cythnia, ashley, cassie and adam. topics of conversation included, tales of our childhood pets, how parental units can seem just crazy, various art topics, and expectations of ghost tours.
the crowd gathers
i was suffering from a cold so i could basically taste nothing of the gnocchi. so sad indeed. but eating it as leftovers a few days later i realized it was a warm yummy fall dish. though it could have used a bit more curry and nutmeg for my taste and the best part of it was the cranberries, but when are cranberries not the best part. overall though i felt and i think most the guests would agree, the salad was freaking amazing. last minute, thrown together spinach and pear salad that i’m know crowning as the “fall spinach salad,” the secret ingredient, roasted pumpkin seeds!
a plate of fall yum
dessert of an apple-pear tart was also accompanied with me busting out my abundance of leftover infused whiskies to sample. tea cups were passed around and the smelling, sifting, and sipping began. ( the tart was also very yummy and bad for an excellent breakfast tart the rest of the week.)
brown sugar and butter you just can’t go wrong
this meatless monday was an excellent end of the year bash for the monday dinner parties. i won’t be starting them back up till after the new year. although i am secretly counting down the days till i get a christmas tree, make wassel, and a whole lot of christmas cookies to share around the fire!
RECIPE: FALL SPINACH SALAD
serves 4-6
1 bag fresh spinach leaves (washed)
1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup pear slices (sliced 1/8 inch thick)
1/3 cup red onion slices
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 TBSP olive oil
* whisk together lemon juice, garlic powder, black pepper, and olive oil in a small bowl. set aside.
* in a large bowl toss together spinach leaves, pumpkin seeds and red onion. right before serving toss salad with dressing (dressing may need a quick re-whisking)
Hearty Eaters 