baked rigatoni with ground turkey, pumpkin & ricotta

As the weather gets cooler, I find myself craving warm, comforting meals. Even better if they come together and bake up in one pan! This baked rigatoni with ground turkey, pumpkin and ricotta makes for a delicious dinner this time of year, and is enjoyed by kids and adults alike! I use ground turkey, but feel free to use beef if you prefer. It can also easily be made vegetarian by omitting the meat entirely! I love the added dose of veggies from the (entire can of) pumpkin, as well as some sneaky zucchini we had from our garden. Just a pinch of ground nutmeg imparts a wonderful depth of flavor- I highly recommend it! And don’t skimp on the cheese, either. We use a mix of whole milk ricotta and shredded mozzarella while baking, and freshly grated parmesan to serve! Top with red pepper flakes for a spicy kick! This can also be made ahead, and is great reheated, or even frozen and defrosted! Did I mention you don’t even have to boil the pasta before cooking? Talk about an easy, satisfying dinner!

Baked Rigatoni with Ground Turkey, Pumpkin & Ricotta:

  • 1 pound ground turkey (or beef)

  • 1 yellow onion, finely chopped

  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

  • 6oz. can tomato paste

  • 15oz. can pumpkin puree

  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

  • 1/2 tsp dried herbs (I like sage, oregano & thyme)

  • 1 large zucchini, cubed or shredded

  • 3 cups vegetable (or beef/chicken) broth

  • 16oz box rigatoni pasta

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese

  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

  • red pepper flakes, fresh parmesan cheese, fried sage leaves- optional garnish

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a wide, oven-safe skillet (or casserole dish), brown the ground turkey for a several minutes until no pink remains, seasoning with salt & pepper as it cooks. Remove from pan, and saute the onion and garlic for a few minutes until they start to caramelize, careful not to burn the garlic. Add the turkey back to the pan, as well as the tomato paste, pumpkin puree, ground nutmeg and dried herbs, stirring to combine. Remember to season with salt & pepper at each step, and let the sauce simmer/cook together for a few minutes so that the flavors can develop. Add zucchini or other veggies, if using, until fully mixed together. Then, add the broth and pasta, and stir to combine. Add dollops of the ricotta throughout the pasta, by the large spoonful. Mix some salt & pepper and lemon zest into the ricotta before adding to the pasta if you want to elevate the flavor even more. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Cover and cook for about 40 minutes. Then uncover and cook for about 5 more minutes until cheese is bubbly. Let cool, and sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

*Adapted from No Boil Pumpkin & Sausage Baked Ziti by Inspiralized.

sushi zo

If you’re in the mood for an epic dining experience featuring some of the freshest, tastiest sushi, look no further than Sushi Zo. The omakase multi-course tasting menu at Sushi Zo is designed to allow you to experience the essence of traditional sushi. That means the menu changes day to day depending on market availability, only the highest quality fish is served, and it’s all hand selected each morning by the chefs themselves. It’s not cheap, but good quality sushi shouldn’t be, so save it for a special occasion or celebration of sorts. But trust me, you’re in for a treat when dining here. Each dish is beautifully presented, and the flavors are so well balanced. If I could remember each of the (20+?!) plates, I’d give you a more detailed recap, but feel free to scroll through the slideshow to relive the experience a bit. From the sashimi to the sushi nigiri to the fresh roe to the hand rolls, it was all so delightful and flavorful. If you plan a meal at Sushi Zo, I hope you enjoy the experience as much as we did. It’s truly one we won’t forget. Just don’t forget the sake to pair along with your omakase!

cali cream ice cream

My family loves a good ice cream spot. Even better when there’s endless flavors with seasonal and dairy-free options as well! We got the chance to visit Cali Cream Ice Cream when we were visiting Encinitas recently, and it did not disappoint. They churn out all homemade flavors made in small batches at this location as well as in San Diego. Although I do get slightly overwhelmed when there’s so many choices (57?!), but the employees were awesome and let us try several flavors to help make our decisions. I ended up with a cup of Graham Central (graham cracker-flavored ice cream with graham ripple and chocolate covered honeycomb crunch) and Coffee (dairy-free, but still super creamy and delish)! My husband went for a couple super chocolatey options as per usual- Oreo Dough, a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream with large chunks of Oreo cookies was a huge hit. My son Dylan even got a free kiddie cone for his birthday! Yum! I definitely need to go back ASAP for the S’mores, Praline Pecan, Almond Joy, Coconut Cream Pie, Gooey Fudge Brownie…. You get the idea, let’s just say there’s a lot of flavors on my list to try. And now there’s likely seasonal holiday options as well? Yes please!

grain-free pecan pie bars

I can’t believe the holiday season is soon upon us. This year has really flown by! One of the first things that comes to mind when I think holidays is holiday baking! From festive pies at Thanksgiving to cookie exchanges at Christmas, I’m truly here for it all! Pecan pie is a southern fave for good reason- that gooey caramelized filling, with candied pecans, and a buttery shortbread crust is hard to beat. But to be honest, many pecan pies can be sickeningly sweet, and I’m not a huge fan of the corn syrup filling that is traditionally used. I also understand pies can be a bit of an overwhelming undertaking, and so I love the approach of somewhat more casual pecan pie bars! These in particular are made with a coconut milk and date filling, along with a butter and almond flour based crust. Plus lots of gooey pecans!

These are equally as delicious as their pie-counterpart, but can be eaten with your hands! Served in a bowl topped with a big scoop of ice cream ain’t bad either, just sayin’. My bestie Rachel Mcconn at Rachel Mcconn Wellness (who I’ve baked with before & also loves a good sweet treat) developed this grain, gluten, and refined sugar- free pecan pie bar recipe, and asked me to test out the recipe for her. Okay, fine, twist my arm ;) These turned out super tasty- not to mention made the house smell absolutely fantastic- and I think they’d make a perfect addition to any holiday table. She has offered to share the recipe with my readers- so head on over to her site for the recipe! As always with RMW recipes, these are free of all gluten, grains, and refined sugars, so those with any allergies or restrictions can still indulge freely as well. Hope you enjoy, and happy holidays!

qué padre

Mexican food is a fan favorite in our house. While there is some debate as to what style or rendition is best- my husband is from New Mexico, I’m from Texas, and we live in California- we can definitely appreciate a good taco, margarita and some chips & guacamole! From super casual to fine dining, you can really get good Mexican food across the board these days, and I was pumped to try a new spot in our area called Qué Padre. Specializing in street-style tacos, this coastal cantina packs its menu with the freshest of flavors from all over Mexico. There’s a bit of Cali influence thanks to the locally-sourced ingredients, and I have to say I really enjoyed this modern take on all your Mexican favorites. Located in Palisades Village, the atmosphere at Qué Padre is totally chill and laid back, allowing you to sip on some tasty tequilas while dining out in the sun. Totally up my alley! Not to mention it’s adjacent to the grassy, park area so kiddies can play as well.

My boys and I got to enjoy a delicious taco feast soon after the grand opening, and we all left completely satisfied- and perhaps a bit too full! If you like a fun beverage, I definitely recommend browsing the cocktail & drinks menu. So many unique offerings (whether you’re in the mood for an alcoholic beverage or not)- from horchata (spiked or kid-friendly) to aguas frescas to an extensive tequila list to refreshing cocktails and more! I can’t resist a negroni, so tried their tequila version, which was super smooth and totally hit the spot. My hubby went the more traditional route, and was also quite pleased with his spicy margarita. Now, on to the food! Do yourself a favor and order the scallop ceviche, plus the lobster en nogada, camarón, and carnitas tacos. The little details (think mexican coke-braised pork, charred pineapple, jalapeño ash, poached lobster tail, morita black bean purée…) really allow the quality and flavors to shine through. So delish! You can totally taste the difference in the house-made corn tortillas too. And of course, since no meal of mine is complete without dessert, we had to indulge in the Mexican chocolate churros and the tres leches flan. My son & I couldn’t get enough of the chocolate dipping sauce. Heaven! Feel free to click through the photos for more details on each dish, and next time you’re in the Palisades, be sure to swing by Qué Padre for a taco.

topanga mother bread

topanga mother sourdough bread

To me, there’s not much better than freshly baked bread. The smell, the texture, and the taste all just makes my heart sing. You can get good bread many places these days- from farmers markets to grocery stores to the bakeries themselves- the options are endless. But truly great bread is a bit harder to come by, and that’s why I was so delighted to find Topanga Mother, a local bread dealer here in my neighborhood that delivers freshly baked bread to your doorstep! Naturally fermented sourdough breads, made using only organic flour and whole grains, are the focus here, and each fully hydrated dough is hand shaped into a super delicious loaf for you to enjoy at home.

The menu at Topanga Mother is simple- country, seeded country, raisin pan, and olive loaves are available to order. While classics are great, I love me a mix-in, so naturally I gravitated toward their olive studded and cinnamon raisin loaves. The ratio of mix-ins to bread is high here, just how I like it, so every piece includes a juicy, delectable bite. The whole family is fan, and we blazed through our delivery quite quickly. Topanga Mother delivers every Wednesday and Sunday, and you can contact them if you have a special request, or need a bread fix on other days of the week as well! Talk about top notch service. I have to say, opening my front door to find freshly baked (still warm!) sourdough on my doorstep is one of my favorite ways to start the day!