This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Hillshire Brand Company but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #buy3save3  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

For me, fall flavors are rich and savory with hints of sweetness.  After a summer of light, crisp and citrus-laden meals, I welcome the seasonal fare change — hearty, herbaceous, belly and soul-filling meals.

Football is big in my home right now – go Vikings – yes there are Vikings fans in SoCal – and I pride myself on my Sunday meals. Often times, I’m cooking on Sundays for a pack of ravenous football fans, and it cannot be all grill.meals….

In the true spirit of October, I’m taking full advantage of the gorgeous pumpkins and squash available on every corner.  This past Sunday, I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to make fresh, homemade pasta for the first time, stuffed with a harvest bounty.

See, I’m on this try a new technique once a week kick.  Last week it was poaching eggs and preparing hollandaise – not so hard actually, just all about timing and attention.  So, why not jump into homemade pasta? *heavy swallow*

With confidence from nailing the poached egg, I decided to tackle fresh pasta, maybe stuffed, but where to go – ravioli? tortellini?

No lie, I bought this manual pasta maker this weekend and this is my first attempt.  I saw this quote the other day and I love it, and I think it applies here –

It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not. 

That’s a quote by Denis Waitley, author of The Psychology of Winning.  Think you cannot master homemade pasta?  Think again and then stop thinking – just go for it!  My cheerleader past is taking over… let’s get to the recipe!

I tried a couple and Anne Burrell’s All-Purpose Pasta Dough recipe worked best for me.  Make a flour well (careful not to break the walls or liquid escapes quickly!!) and as soon as you find a cohesive texture, knead and then knead again.  Once a smooth texture emerges, wrap and rest for at least an hour.

I knew I wanted a hearty protein in this Sunday football recipe, and sausage was the first that came to mind.  I headed to Vons (Safeway) and found Hillshire Farm Beef Rope Smoked Sausage, the perfect pairing for harvest squash.  This slow-cooked smoked sausage is made with natural spices, lending great flavor to these delicious raviolis.

For the filling blend: a roasted pumpkin puree, roasted butternut squash puree, fresh chopped sage and Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, chopped (think tartare).

To create the raviolis, roll your fresh pasta dough through your pasta roller until it is as thin as you can get it.  Pasta puffs up as it cooks, so the thinner the better.

Run an egg wash over the pasta sheet.  Place teaspoon-sized mounds 2 inches apart on your sheet of pasta, stopping halfway down.  Fold the sheet back over top and seal off your raviolis, making sure there are no air pockets.  Cut with a crimping tool or ravioli stamp.

Time to cook the ravioli, drop them in a pot of boiling, salted water for 10-15 minutes. Do not overcrowd the pot, raviolis pop to the top when cooked.

Top with a warm, thick bechamel (simple white) sauce spiked with nutmeg. I found my recipe at The Kitchn. Garnish with roasted pepitas from the pumpkins used for filling.

Needless to say, the Sausage and Harvest Squash Raviolis were a hit among the man crowd in my home.  They do require a bit of effort but your efforts pay off triple-fold in super yummy, fall flavors.

Did I mention how cute my husband is? *gush*  P.S. I love you too… the PS stands for Palm Springs, our home.

I saved a ton of time by using Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage. For more recipes on how to incorporate delicious Hillshire Farm products in your fall meals, head over to their website.

Safeway Savings alert! Save $3 when you buy any three participating Hillshire Brands products – mix & match!  You must be signed up for the  “Just for U” program to save!  Keep in the know by liking Hillshire Farm on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Twitter Party!

When: Tuesday, October 15, from 8-9 pm EST (5-6:00 PST).

Where: On Twitter, using the hashtag #Buy3Save3

Who: Be sure to follow our hosts @PollinateMedia, @fashionistammc, @jenhatzung.

TweetDeck: We recommend following along using TweetDeck for the party. Search for our #buy3save3 hashtag

Prizes: We will be giving away 4 $25 SAFEWAY gift cards throughout the party.