Ravioli with Spinach, Ricotta and White Truffle Oil

My Grandmother says that “Watching Haley eat is an art in itself.” She is so cute. However when I was eating these Raviolis it was down right ridiculous! I would not be quite about how amazing I thought these pockets of love were! My husband was looking at me like I was completely nuts! I was talking to these little things and with each bite I closed my eyes and “Mmmmmm……ing” every single time! So must I say more? This recipe is incredible simple and so much fun to make. Just you wait, you will be Mmmmm..ing with each bite too.

Ingredients

Fresh Pasta Dough

12 ounces Organic Spinach, frozen and chopped

16 ounces Ricotta Cheese

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

1/4 Cup Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped

3/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

Heavy Cream

Black Pepper, freshly cracked

White Truffle Oil

Directions

1. Drain the Spinach into a colander, drain and rinse well. Place the wet spinach onto paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze as much of the remaining water from the spinach as possible.

2. In a large bowl, mix the ricotta, garlic, spinach, parsley, parmesan and sea salt and pepper to taste. Fold in enough cream to make the mixture soft and malleable.

3. Roll out the pasta to thin sheets. Cut the desired squared sizes you would like for the ravioli. Cover with a damp cloth while you make the ravioli. Working 2-4 squares at a time, spoon 1-1 1/2 teaspoons of the filling onto the middle of every other square. Place another ravioli square on top of the mixture and gently pinch the bottom and top layers together. (If they do not stick together easily, brush the edges with water.)

4. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add a generous tablespoon of sea salt. Add the ravioli. Cook for a few minutes until the pasta is al dente and the ravioli floats to the top of the water. Be careful not to allow the water to reach a rolling boil or the ravioli could fall apart. Remove with a skimmer and place a few on each plate. Drizzle with the White Truffle Oil and grate parmesan and freshly ground pepper. Serve immediately.

Sauteed Mushroom Ravioli with Manchego Thyme and Pepper Cream

If I could rename “Ravioli” I would call it “Pocket Full of Goodness!” Because that it truly what it is. Not only is ravioli so much fun to make, but you get to choose what goes inside!

For this particular ‘Packet Full of Goodness’ recipe, I chose to fill them with gorgeous sauteed mushrooms, a thin slice of Manchego Cheese and tossed them in a delicious cream sauce.

Dough

1 1/2 Cups Organic Flour

3 Organic Eggs

1 teaspoon Sea Salt

1 teaspoon fresh Thyme

Directions

Combine the flour, eggs, salt and thyme. Using your hands or a wooden spoon mix until well incorporated. Roll out the dough using a pasta machine until the sheets are very thin. Set aside on parchment paper to prevent the sheets from sticking. When your filling is done and cooled cut your sheets of pasta into 3″ x 3″ pieces. To put together the ravioli layer 2 mushrooms then a piece of the Manchego then 1 mushroom on top. Complete as many ravioli as you would like to serve then set aside on parchment paper dusted with a little flour to again, prevent sticking.

Filling

1 Cup Crimini Mushrooms, chopped

2 Tablespoons Organic Sweet Cream Butter

Manchego Cheese, thinly sliced into 1” pieces

Sea Salt and Pepper

Directions

In a large pan saute the butter, mushrooms, salt and pepper over low-medium heat until the mushroom are wilted and beautiful. Then set aside in a bowl to cool for about 15 minutes.

Cream Sauce

1 Cup Organic Cream

1/3 Cup Manchego Cheese

1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, fresh cracked

Few sprigs of Thyme

Directions

In a small pot heat the cream and Manchego until it is melted. Add in the sea salt, pepper and Thyme. Stir with a whisk to

prevent to much clumping. (A little clumping is good because it gives it that cheesy texture.)

To cook the ravioli, bring a large pot of sea salted water to a soft boil and add in your ravioli one at a time. Do not overcrowd the pot. Cook until tender 8-10 minutes. (All dough has a different cook time, so just test the ravioli to make sure it is to the consistency you would like.)

When your ravioli is ready to be served, top with the gorgeous cream sauce and garnish with a pinch more of pepper and fresh Thyme.

Date and Goat Cheese Tarts with Oyster Mushrooms and Pistachios

There is something about the combination of Dates and Goat Cheese that I just adore. The sweet with the tang and creaminess, it just works together.

This gorgeous recipe combines these flavors along with crunchy Pistachios and earthy Oyster Mushrooms all laying upon buttery Puff Pastry.

Ingredients:

1 Sheet of Puff Pastry

1 Organic Egg

1/2-3/4 Cup Organic or Local Goat Cheese

1/3 Cup Oyster Mushrooms, wiped clean with a dish towel, then chopped

6-8 Dates, Chopped into pieces

Handful of Pistachios

Sea Salt and Pepper

Chives

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degress

Cut a pre rolled 9 x 9 sheet of Puff Pastry in to 6 pieces. Brush with egg wash and lay the pieces on a parchment paper covered baking sheet.

Chop the chives and sprinkle on the puff pastry. Then combine the Goat Cheese, Mushrooms, Egg, Salt and Pepper and put a few tablespoons of the mixture onto each of the pieces of pastry. Then a layer of chopped pistachios, dates and pistachios again.

Bake for 15-16 minutes until the edges of the pastry is puffed and golden brown.

Serve warm with a beautiful salad and a glass of wine