Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta

I love delicata squash. It's definitely my favorite of the squashes. I especially love that I'm not about to abscond off to the ER because I chopped off my hand trying to crack the darn thing open. Yep, these little buggers are so soft, the peel is edible! If you've never had delicata squash, now's the time. Particularly if you live in fear of other, more menacing, squashes. Butternut, I'm looking at you.

Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Be content with what you have; rejoice in the ways things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
— Lao Tzu
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.

Don't you adore my tiny purple bell pepper I've been bragging about for weeks. It came in my CSA box and I think it's just the most delightful thing I've ever laid eyes on. If you can't get sheer joy from a tiny purple pepper, where can you get it?

Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
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Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta
A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Ingredients
  • 2 delicata squash, washed and chopped
  • 1 lb. penne pasta, dry
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 small bell pepper, diced
  • 1 bunch of chard, chopped
  • -- Sauce --
  • 1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 4 whole garlic cloves
  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil
  • dash of kosher salt
  • dash of ground black pepper
  • 2 large fresh basil leaves
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1/2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F and coat a baking sheet with a nonstick cooking spray. Evenly arrange the chopped squash on the sheet and brush with a bit of olive oil. Roast for 25 minutes, until tender.Bring a large pot of water to boil for the pasta and cook according to package.In a large rimmed frying pan, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil and sauté the 1 garlic clove and bell pepper for a few minutes, until the garlic becomes fragrant. Now, add the chard and sauté for about 5 additional minutes, until wilted.Meanwhile, combine all the sauce ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for a couple minutes until very smooth. Transfer to a small saucepan to heat over low until ready to use. Drain the pasta and return to pot. Add the sauce, squash, and chard mixture. Stir well to combine and serve hot.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 6
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.
Produce On Parade - Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta - A perfect early autumn penne pasta with roasted delicata squash, sautéed chard and bell pepper, dressed in a fresh, herbed tomato sauce.

Bob is so very handsome, don't you think?

Dutch Word of The Day

Purple --> Paars (pars)

Good Deed of The Day

Do you want to live a longer, less stressful life? Do you know what a key component of that is? It's meditation. For real. Don't take my word for it though. I always thought to meditate properly I'd have to sit cross-legged with a straight-back (this is puzzlingly difficult for me), with wind chimes in the background, incense burning, and chanting involved.

Um, not if you don't want to. I meditate comfortably lying down. Wind chime, incense, and chanting free (usually). People always say they could never meditate because they think to much. I'm here to tell you that my mind is like a browser with 35 tabs open. You don't have to force your mind to be silent. Thoughts come and go. You don't chase them, and you don't push them out. You just let them flow. So, try meditating, and see how you feel. I use the podcast Meditation Oasis and the app Insight Timer for guided meditations. If you want more tips, let me know!