Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Friendship Dairies. As always, all opinions here are my own.
I love this time of year for so many reasons, one of the biggest being the chance to reconnect with friends near and far. It's like the old song says, "Faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more."
When you "grow up" and life gets hectic, it's easy to lose touch with your nearest and dearest -- especially if they're not, in fact, near. But when the holidays come around, something happens that reminds you to slow down and reach out to the ones who matter. Suddenly you're gathering around the table for "Friendsgiving", seeing familiar, smiling faces emerge from envelopes as you open your holiday mail... and you remember that these are the people who have been there through it all: Your true friends. It's nostalgic, and special and sometimes even a little bit sad. But it's one of the magical things about the holidays; taking the time to treasure friendships and appreciate one another.
True friends know our quirks and habits, our virtues and our flaws... and somehow, they choose to love us anyway. They're the ones that you want to both hug and strangle -- sometimes simultaneously. And they're the only ones who can persuade us to step out of our comfort zones and disarm us like no other because we trust that they want the best for us.
Have you ever thought about all the things that you never would have tried or experienced if it wasn't for the suggestion of a friend? Because, let me tell you, I would have missed out on quite a few good things in life had I not been nudged a bit: Sushi. Roller Coasters. Hair straighteners. Yoga. This Is Us. Margaritas. {Yes, really.} All things I currently enjoy, and all things I originally balked at.
I have done my fair share of convincing and converting, especially in the food department since friends tend to trust my judgement {in that category, at least}, and I'm happy to say that there are more quinoa-eating, kombucha-drinking, fish oil-taking people on this earth because of me. {Gosh, that makes me sound like a hippie.}
And yet, there are still some foods that take a little more urging than others, especially for those with sensitive taste buds, texture issues mental hurdles that are hard to overcome. {i.e. My husband with mayo.}
With Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings coming up, I thought I'd share a recipe that was inspired by a dish created by Rosella Rago {of Cooking with Nonna} for Friendship Dairies' "The Power of Friendship" campaign even though it contains something that could very well be on the list of no-go's for picky eating friends: Cottage Cheese.
Personally, I've always enjoyed cottage cheese, but I know so many people that just can't get past the texture. I get it. {Sort of.} It's lumpy and kind of strange. But it's so good!
If only there were a way to showcase the rich, creamy flavor of cottage cheese without having to deal with the consistency... Oh wait! 🙂 Behold Easy Pumpkin Marinara Pasta with Whipped Cottage Cheese Ricotta.
Rosella's recipe caught my eye because it does precisely that. By blending the cottage cheese into "ricotta", you get to enjoy all the deliciousness it offers without the textural hangups. {Not to mention, it's a nice way to lighten things up a bit.} I gave the recipe my own fall twist by infusing her classic tomato sauce with an autumn must-have -- Pumpkin! I like how the pumpkin gives the sauce a smoothness and cuts the acidity of the tomatoes, adding hint of something special.
The crowning glory, of course, is the sneaky cottage cheese "ricotta", dolloped all over the top of the dish. The heat from the pasta warms it up and it starts to melt ever so slightly, giving it a decadent creaminess that is perfect for a special meal.
I'll leave it up to you whether or not you want to fess up to your friends about what you're serving up, but I do encourage you to set aside some time to spend with the ones who have been a part of your life for a short time or forever this holiday season. You'll never regret the time spent in the company of friends!
Check out how Friendship Dairies' video about "The Power of Friendship" and how being there for a friend in their time of need can turn out to be shockingly rewarding!
Easy Pumpkin Marinara Pasta with Whipped Cottage Cheese “Ricotta”
Ingredients
For Cottage Cheese "Ricotta"
- 1 cup Friendship Dairies 4% Cottage Cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano Regiano or favorite grated Italian cheese
For Pumpkin Marinara
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic minced or grated
- 14 ounces {½ of a large can} crushed tomatoes
- ⅓ cup pumpkin puree
- 4-5 basil leaves torn {plus extra for topping}
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces rotini or your favorite pasta*
- ¼ cup Parmigiano Regiano
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for about a minute, stirring frequently.
- Stir crushed tomatoes, pumpkin puree, basil and salt into the mixture and heat until simmering. Reduce heat to low and let it bubble for about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions to al dente.
- Make the "Ricotta": In the bowl of a food processor, process cottage cheese and grated cheese until smooth & ricotta-like.
- When the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it directly to the skillet containing the sauce; give it a gentle toss to coat the pasta.
- Spoon cottage cheese "ricotta" in dollops over the top of the pasta. Sprinkle with extra Parmigiano and basil, if desired.
Notes
*You can easily make this recipe for a larger crowd by doubling all the measurements.