Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
November 7th, 2012 | Author: Alysha
Today is a 3-cup day. Of coffee, that is. I was glued to the election coverage last night despite my usual 9:30 bedtime. And yes, I’m aware that this confession makes me sound incredibly lame. But as someone who needs 8 hours just to function and who normally wakes up at 5:34 to hit the gym (yes, those extra 4 minutes are very important), I don’t have any other choice.
Although eating enough fruits and veggies and working out are extremely important, sleep counts just as much. Even despite the health benefits, I love sleeping. My parents never had to force me to go to bed s a kid. I happily obliged.
So now I’m yawning through the morning and thinking about the fun activities happening after work tonight. A few of us co-workers, past and present, are meeting to discuss Emily Giffin’s “Where We Belong.”
We’re also ordering Topper’s Pizza, which is one of my favorite takeout pizzas. It’s right up there with Pizza Hut’s Stuffed Crust Pizza, which I haven’t been able to eat in years because Brenton doesn’t like it and there isn’t a Pizza Hut nearby.
Speaking of good food, it seems like we’ve been eating our weight in squash lately. I sill have a bunch of acorn and spaghetti squash to use up because we’ve been chipping away at our butternut squash stash (with Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, Butternut Squash Chipotle Soup and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad – recipe to come!). Our latest creation is a one-pot meal that uses squash, spinach, goat cheese, bacon and gnocchi.
I only discovered gnocchi about 2 years ago and it’s one of my favorite things to make. Gnocchi with White Beans was one of the best meals I made last year.
I love how versatile gnocchi is. It plays well with so many ingredients, whether it be tomatoes or cheese. When I have more time, I’d love to make this stuff from scratch a la Carol or Brigitt.
Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
Serves 4
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into small cubes
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
3 cups spinach
1 17.5-ounce package potato gnocchi
4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
4 cooked bacon strips, crumbled
1. Melt two tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the squash and cook, stirring until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and salt, to taste. Continue cooking for 2 minutes more.
2. Add the chicken broth to the skillet. When it starts to simmer, stir in the spinach, gnocchi and bacon, stirring to coat. Cover and cook until the gnocchi are just tender, about 5 minutes. Uncover and stir in the goat cheese. Once the goat cheese is melted, turn off the heat. Serve hot.
Question: What are your favorite things to do with squash? Links welcome!
And don’t forget! You still have until Monday, November 12 to enter my Pasta Shoppe Giveaway! I’m giving away 3 holiday gift sets so get those entries in!
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i agree, today is a multiple cups of coffee kind of day. so long!
Alex @ therunwithin recently posted..If I Could Just Politely Ask…
Thanks for the shout out! =)
I love that we are all into gnocchi right now. Yours looks amazing! Creamy and colorful. I am a huge fan of goat cheese, so I’ll definitely have to give this a try!
Brigitt @ Cook With B recently posted..Pear Galette
I wasn’t even planning on using goat cheese but we had some that was probably a month old hidden in the back of our fridge. Since it still smelled good and there was no mold, I threw it in there. Great idea!
Alysha recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
I love that you set your alarm for 5:34! I set mine for 5:26 — so random, but that’s what time is has to be! This looks SO good! Gnocchi is one of my favorite things to make, so I’ll definitely try it out!
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie recently posted..Tangent Tuesday – Election Night Addition
And here I thought I was the only person who was totally weird about time!
Alysha recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
I love sleeping too, but my parents always had to force me to bed because I also love staying up late :) My co-workers joke about how they’ve been at work for hours before I wake up…but they’re also long gone by the time I leave. In fact, I have to turn the office lights back on each night when they automatically shut off at 6pm. I’m thankful for a job with flexible work hours!
Karis’ Kitchen recently posted..Cookies for Kids’ Cancer – Bake Sale & Cookie Swap
My old job was flexible like that too. I actually used to work 6:30-3:15. It was insane how early I was being productive!
Alysha recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
Ugh, I had a 3 cups of coffee morning too! Well worth it to watch the coverage, but still made me hurt when the alarm when off!
I totally agree! It’s hard to turn off history in the making.
Alysha recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
This sounds perfect for me. I don’t know which I love more, butternut squash, goat cheese, or gnocchi!
Tiff (@LoveSweatBeers) recently posted..Runner’s Knee and Runner’s Pasta
Agreed! You can’t go wrong when all your favorite things are in one dish :)
Alysha recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
I love boiled kabocha squash in a Thai coconut curry! nom!
Alex @ Brain, Body, Because recently posted..Secret Ingredients!
Curry has been on my to-make list for months now. Do you ever post any thai recipes? I need help!
Alysha recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
I really want to try butternut squash gnocchi again. I did it 2 years ago and it wasn’t as light as I like it. I’m thinking I handled it too much?
Right now I’m loving butternut squash and cherry protein smoothies post-workout. Creamy and satisfying after a hard lifting session!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Nuttzo Over Nut Butter + Giveaway
I’ve been on a total smoothie kick too. Blueberry and mango protein smoothies. It makes me really wish I had a Vitamix!
Alysha recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
This sounds amazing!! Gnocchi is my favorite pasta by far. Do you buy yours frozen?
Favorite things to do with squash… roast it, use it in casseroles, stuff it, make soup out of it… eat it all the time every day….
Carol @ Lucky Zucca recently posted..Kitten BFF
I didn’t even know it came frozen :) I get it in the aisle with all the other dried pastas. Am I missing out!?
Alysha recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
We have so much goat cheese in our house it’s ridiculous…this is on my must make list!
Brittney @ Brittney Breathing recently posted..Trader Joe’s Purchases
Good problem to have! I’d stick the stuff in a panini or on top of a pizza.
Alysha @ She’s on the Run recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
Squash and goat cheese–two of my favorite things!
I Wilkerson recently posted..Easiest Salmon Florentine (with Blender Hollandaise)
I am a goat cheese lover myself…especially on pizza.
Alysha @ Shesontherun recently posted..Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Gnocchi
Bookmarking this recipe now – I love gnocchi because it is SO versitle. I recently made it into an Asian dish and it tasted great – the texture is what makes it awesome.
Kailey recently posted..Lose, Win
Are you kidding me? It never even occurred to me that you could make gnocchi into an Asian dish. Did you post about it? I’d love the recipe :)
Alysha @ She’s on the Run recently posted..Adventures at Wine and Dine Wisconsin + Giveaway Winners!
Oh my goodness… this looks heavenly!!! Like all my favorite foods in one bowl. Even though I just had lunch, I wish I had a big bowl of this right now!! Yum!!!!
Alissa N recently posted..Sweet Potato and Spinach Sauté
me too! I’m eating lunch right now (a salad and baked oatmeal – not together though :) Some gnocchi is just what I need.
Alysha recently posted..Product Review: Zensah Compression Socks