My parents planted buttercup squash in their garden this year, and they brought me a couple when they came to help move us. I wanted to use this squash in a way that was different from roasting it with butter and brown sugar. Although it is delicious that way, I felt the squash deserved something a little more savory.

Sometime I read a recipe somewhere using roasted pumpkin and turning into a creamy sauce to serve over pasta. Unfortunately I don’t recall where I read that but it stuck with me. I thought it was an interesting way to use pumpkin that wasn’t a pie, cheesecake, bars, or bread (all of which I love). Last night when I was looking at that squash and wondering how to use it for dinner I recalled the pumpkin pasta. I figured there is no harm in turning one squash into a sauce to serve with pasta. If it totally sucked I would throw out the sauce and just dump a jar of Prego on top of my pasta. Since my husband was still at work while I was cooking he would never have to know. Well, lucky for me the sauce turned out to be delicious. The girls actually asked for a second helping and thoroughly enjoyed the leftovers today for lunch. YAY! This is a real fall winner dinner.

CREAMY BUTTERCUP SQUASH PASTA
1 buttercup squash
EVOO
salt & pepper
2 T butter
2 c half & half (I used fat free)
1/2 tsp dried sage
scant 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c water
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese

your favorite pasta cooked to al dente

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut squash in half, scooping out and disguarding seeds, cut each half in half. Drizzle EVOO over squash pieces and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Place flesh side down on jelly roll pan and roast for 40-50 minutes. When you start to smell it, check on it. The squash should be very tender. The squash skin should peel right off. Mash squash flesh and stir in water (don’t add it all) you want it to be wet but not soupy.

Over medium heat melt butter in a large skillet. Add half & half and squash puree. Stir until combined. Stir in sage and cinnamon. Heat until simmering, stirring frequently. Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. If sauce still seems thick stir in additional water or chicken stock.

Toss sauce with pasta and ENJOY!

*If you are going to reheat pasta in the microwave add a little water to it so the sauce becomes creamy again

WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE COOKING UP:
Recipe Girl has a delicious sounding Butternut Squash Risotto with Rosemary & Blue Cheese
The Noshery cooked up a tasty looking Roasted Butternut Squash, Pear and Onions with Blue Cheese