Fall Recipes with Door to Door Organics + a Giveaway

Door to Door Organics Delivery

I have to say, one of my favorite parts of fall is the seasonal food and drink. Butternut squash, Asian pears, carrots, cranberries, pumpkin, apples, you name it! While I do go out to eat around Chicago quite a bit, sometimes all I crave is a home cooked meal. It's been awhile since I've posted a recipe on the blog so today I'm partnering with Door to Door Organics to bring you two tasty fall recipes for a kale salad and butternut squash pasta + a GIVEAWAY!

Not familiar with Door to Door Organics? It's an online grocer that partners with farmers to bring fresh, organic produce and groceries to your doorstep, either at work or at home. In addition to produce, they also offer dairy, prepared foods, meats, baked goods, snacks, pantry staples, and more and deliver for free within 50 miles of Chicago.

To order, you first start by choosing the size of produce box and delivery frequency that meets your needs, and then choose all veggie, all fruit, or a combination of the two. The Friday before your delivery you receive an e-mail telling you what seasonal produce will arrive in your box and then you have until noon the day before your delivery to make up to five substitutions. I went with the smallest produce box with a mix of fruits and veggies. I loved how I could substitute for produce I needed for the dishes I was making. You can also add items to your order from Door to Door Organics' other offerings like dairy, meats and additional produce to help complete your shopping list. All of your food comes packaged in boxes with ice packs to keep your food fresh and the packaging can be recycled for your next order.

Door to Door Organics Delivery

Door to Door Organics Delivery

I ordered seasonal produce and pantry items for my salad and fall pasta dish, as well as some local cheeses and bread, crackers and grapes to make a cheese board at home. Door to Door Organics had a delicious goat cheese cheddar and asiago from Wisconsin which I proudly displayed on my Illinois cheese board :)

Cheese Board

For my fall salad, I decided to combine several seasonal ingredients to make a simple salad: kale, carrot, dried cranberry, pumpkin seeds, cherry tomatoes, Asian pear,  Parmesan, and apple cider vinegar.

Salad Ingredients

I added the pumpkin seeds, sliced the pear into matchsticks, and shredded the carrot to make nice ribbons.

Add Pumpkin Seeds

Fall Kale Salad

After washing and prepping the produce, I added some apple cider vinegar and olive oil, and tossed everything together. You can use any dressing you'd like, or you can make a vinaigrette out of the cider vinegar.

Salad Dressing

Fall Kale Salad

Fall Kale Salad

For the pasta dish, I wanted to make something that was very seasonal, but also was a comfort food. The result was a butternut squash penne with ground turkey, goat cheese, onion, dried cranberries, toasted cashews, and basil. Talk about yum!

The recipe is pretty simple to make. You roast an onion and cubed butternut squash, and add it with your basil, Parmesan, dried cranberries, cashews, and cooked ground turkey to prepared whole wheat penne. The best part is the sauce which is made with reserved pasta water and goat cheese. The pasta water melts the goat cheese, turning it into a rich and creamy sauce! After stirring all ingredients together, you add salt and pepper to taste, top with a bit of shredded Parmesan, serve, and enjoy!

Roasted Onion & Butternut Squash

Pasta and Goat Cheese

Add Pasta Water

Goat Cheese Sauce

Parmesan, Dried Cranberries, Basil, Goat Cheese

Toasted Cashews

Pasta Ingredients

Butternut Squash Pasta

Fall Kale Salad and Butternut Squash Pasta

Check out the full recipes for the fall kale salad and butternut squash pasta below!

If you're interested in checking out Door to Door Organics, you can receive $10 off your first order with code: GHOSTGUEST.

I've also partnered with Door to Door Organics to offer one lucky fan of The Ghost Guest a $50 gift certificate to Door to Door Organics! Enter below before 12am CST on Friday October 16th. This giveaway is only open to Chicagoland area residents who live or work in Door to Door Organics' delivery area. Check to see if you're in the delivery area here.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall Kale Salad

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

One bunch of kale

1/4 C pumpkin seeds

1 C shaved carrot

1 C sliced Asian pear

1 C cherry tomatoes

1/4 C shaved Parmesan

Vinaigrette or dressing of choice

Directions:

1) Shred kale into bite-sized pieces and place in large bowl

2) Shave carrots, slice Asian pear and add to bowl

3) Add tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, and Parmesan

4) Top with vinaigrette, toss and serve

Butternut Squash Pasta

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 lb whole wheat penne pasta
1 lb ground turkey
1 yellow onion
1 butternut squash cut into cubes, or 1 bag of fresh or frozen, cubed butternut squash
1 C crumbled goat cheese
1/2 C dried cranberries
1 C chopped basil
1 C chopped cashews, toasted
1/4 C shredded Parmesan
Nonstick cooking spray
Olive oil (for drizzling)
Kosher salt (to taste)
Black pepper (to taste)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 425F and grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
2) Chop onion into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl with the butternut squash. Drizzle with olive oil, toss to coat and pour onto greased baking sheet. Place in oven for 40 minutes and allow to cool.
3) While onions and butternut squash are cooking, brown your turkey until cooked, and chop your cashews, and basil and set aside.
4) Bring water to a boil for your pasta and cook according to package instructions.
5) While pasta is cooking, place chopped cashews in a skillet and lightly toast for 6-8 minutes over medium heat. Set aside.
6) Remove butternut squash and onion from oven and set aside to cool. Drain pasta and reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
7) Place cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl. Add goat cheese and pour reserved pasta water. Stir gently until goat cheese has melted into a sauce.
8) Add cooked turkey, butternut squash and onion, cranberries, basil, and cashews and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9) Garnish with shaved Parmesan, serve and enjoy!

Note: Door to Door Organics provided me with food to facilitate this post; however, all opinions are my own.