Update:  We do sell our Pumpkin Patch Pasta, but not in the package format in these photos! Still delicious tasting but delivered in a box!

Uh oh…saw yesterday on the news that there may be a shortage of pumpkins this year (due to so much rain)! So it’s time to hurry off to the store or pumpkin stand and get one while you can…and stock up on your canned pumpkin too. They might be more expensive than usual so be prepared. You certainly can’t be caught shorthanded during this holiday season, whether your pumpkins are for decorating or eating!

Cookie (my Mom) and I had a discussion over dinner (while eating this delicious Italian Sausage Pumpkin Pasta, of course!) about the health attributes of pumpkins. This favorite fall squash is known to help with vision, improve our immunity systems, and even aid in weight loss. Wow…who knew?

But getting at the goodness of a pumpkin isn’t easy. It’s like any of those tough skinned squash…you risk losing a finger. So we need an easy shortcut. One of my favorite things to buy this time of year pre-cut is butternut squash. Do you recall my recipe for Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce? (It’s time to bring that recipe out again!) In the case of pumpkin too, we have another shortcut that will make you happy. With our Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta, you can use canned pumpkin. Yes I said “canned”, and yes, you can.

There is a debate surrounding the nutritional aspects of canned veggies. Some argue that the canned alternatives of vegetables are never as high in nutrients as the fresh. During processing, some manufacturers add sugars and salt. Others claim that fresh vegetables lose their nutritional value over time, so it really depends on the age of the veggie while canned vegetables retain their nutritional value. But good news! With pumpkin, both canned and fresh are packed with goodness – lots of potassium, vitamin A, etc. So go ahead and pull out the can opener!

Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta just tastes like autumn. The pumpkin flavor itself is subtle and the spices just add the right smell and punch to the dish. If you didn’t know there was pumpkin in this recipe, you might not even know it was there. So be adventurous and try it.

Our entire family loved this pasta when we served it. The combination of sausage, pumpkin, coconut milk, and spices make for a hearty yet light meal. It’s not often we can say that!

And for added texture and crunch, we topped it off with pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds).  And did you notice the pumpkin sauce is served with our “Zucchette” pumpkin pasta?! Triple pumpkin fun! The pumpkin shape is perfect for these types of heartier sauces. You can find it also in our Healthy Beef Ragu with Mint recipe. Warning: you’ll fall for it too! 🙂  And this sauce can also be enjoyed with any of our Holiday Pasta shapes!