Butternut Squash and Pasta in a Tomato Cream Sauce

Another butternut squash recipe.  Like I said yesterday, if I really like something, I can eat it repeatedly.  And...squash is in season right now and inexpensive.  Plus they come in so many fun shapes, sizes, and colors, that I just cannot resist filling my cart with them every time I go to the store.

A majority of the time, I make two different dinners.  One for myself and a different dish for my husband, Neil (his food tastes do not match up with mine).  Often, I eat part of what I make for him.  Meaning, if I make him steak, roasted potatoes, Heinz beans, and peas (his favorite meal, btw) I will cut off an ounce or two of his steak and make myself a steak salad.

Neil loves salmon, which is great because it's easy to make and super healthy. I have tried and tried, but I do not like salmon.  I have had fresh and correctly cooked salmon and I still do not like it.   I make salmon for Neil about once per week and on those nights I usually have a pizza or black bean tacos.

This week, Neil requested salmon in a tomato cream sauce over pasta.  Perfect, I can have the pasta and sauce minus the salmon.  (This is what happens when two picky eaters live together!) 

I decided to roast some more butternut squash and add that to my serving of pasta.  I was not sure how the combination of creamy tomato sauce and squash would taste, but I was pleasantly surprised.  It is an unlikely combo that is absolutely delicious.  Seriously, skip the salmon.





















Roast the butternut squash.While squash is roasting, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.  Add in the onions and peppers, season with salt and pepper and cook for about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, and continue to cook for another minute.  Next, add the crushed and petite diced tomatoes. Stir all together, lower the heat, and cover.Cook the pasta according to package's instructions.Just before serving, stir the mascarpone cheese into the sauce until completely melted.  Taste and add salt and pepper, if necessary.Top each serving of pasta with butternut squash, the sauce, and freshly grated parmesan cheese.