Daily menu, October 26: Halloween mushroom tarts, squash blossom pasta and pumpkin apple butter pie
This October 26 menu brings seasonal character and contrasting textures to the table, starting with playful Halloween tarts and ending with a warmly spiced pie. The savoury opening pairs crisp pastry, garlic-herb cheese and mushroom slices in an easy-to-share bite that sets a festive tone without making the meal feel complicated.
For the main course, pasta with squash blossoms, ricotta and pistachios offers a softer, fresher counterpoint. Basil and Parmesan enrich the velvety ricotta sauce, while chopped pistachios add a welcome crunch. Then comes a generous slice of pumpkin apple butter pie, where pumpkin, apple butter and autumn spices meet a buttery toffee-and-walnut topping. Together, the three recipes create a distinctive seasonal lunch or dinner, balancing crisp, creamy and sweet elements with a clear Halloween-to-autumn thread.
Halloween tarts with mushrooms and garlic-herb cheese
With just 3 ingredients, these savoury mushroom mini-tarts are fun, economical and ultra-quick to prepare. On a puff pastry base, we spread a generous amount of garlic and herb cream cheese and add mushroom slices for a slightly "dark" touch (perfect...
Pasta with squash blossoms, ricotta cheese and pistachios
A mouth-watering first course that is very easy to prepare. The spaghetti is coated in a light and velvety cream made with ricotta, squash blossoms, basil and grated Parmesan, with a touch of crunch from chopped pistachios added at the end of...
Pumpkin apple butter pie with toffee streusel topping
This is unbelievable good! The frozen pie crust makes it very easy.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Assemble them in advance and keep them refrigerated, then bake just before serving.
How can I make the tarts look more Halloween-inspired?
A little tomato sauce beneath the mushrooms can add a playful, “bloody” effect.
What pasta shapes work for the squash blossom sauce?
Spaghettoni is suggested, but shapes such as paccheri, mezze maniche, fusilli, penne or rigatoni can also work well.
Should I reserve pasta cooking water?
Yes. Use it to thin the ricotta cream and adjust the sauce after adding the pasta.
Can the pasta be made without pistachios?
Yes. The sauce remains creamy and flavourful without them; if you simply lack pistachios, peeled and roasted almonds are suggested as an alternative.
How should leftover pasta be reheated?
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat it in a pan with a little water, stirring until creamy again.
What gives the pie its streusel texture?
The topping combines butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, chopped walnuts and toffee bits.
Shopping list for the complete menu
- 1 rectangular puff pastry
- 5 oz garlic and herb cream cheese
- 6 button mushrooms (minimum)
- 7 oz pasta
- 2 ounces squash blossoms
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 3.5 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- 0.5 oz of basil
- 0.5 oz pistachios
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- olive oil to taste
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup apple butter
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 tea spoon cinnamon
- 1/2 tea spoon nutmeg
- 1/2 tea spoon ginger
- 1/4 tea spoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 deep dish frozen pie crust
- 1 table spoon butter or butter substitute
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 table spoons flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/8 cup toffee bits
Juliette HessI love travelling and discovering new dishes, trying out new food trends and exploring new restaurants.
I’m a huge fan of pasta and noodles in all their forms ❤ from udon noodles to tagliatelle, I love cooking them and even making them from scratch!
I’m currently preparing, filming and photographing your next recipe, and I hope you’ll enjoy it!
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