RECIPE: Butternut Squash and Fresh Stuffed Pasta

INGREDIENTS, for two to three people:
250g butternut squash flesh, cubed app. 1 inch
1 pack 300g fresh stuffed pasta, use a mainly cheese based one, like five cheese tortiloni
2 tbsp oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 small onion, chopped finely
2 cascabel or Sichuan chillies, soaked and soft flesh scraped out and collected
Rind from ½ lemon plus 1 tsp juice
35g Applewood smoked cheese, grated (or other (preferably smoked) cheese)
Salt & pepper to taste
15g butter
35g breadcrumbs
1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped

METHOD
Steam the squash for 10-15 minutes. – Top up the steaming water to boil the pasta to the pack instructions. – Mash the squash to a smooth paste. – Place the oil in a large frying pan or wok and heat, then add the garlic and onion and cook for 5 minutes till the onion is golden. – Add the chilli, lemon and squash, then the cheese and stir well. – Add the cooked and drained pasta and season. – In a separate frying pan melt the butter over a medium heat, then add the breadcrumbs and sage and fry till crispy. – Serve the pasta & squash and sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top, also serve with hot buttered pitta bread.

'Grow Your Own' Chilli Plants

Chilli plants like a warm environment, so achieve much better results in a greenhouse, conservatory or on a sunny windowledge. They are attravtive plants, especially as the fruits turn. You can grow the plants outside, but you will get a later, smaller crop. We give the chillies a star rating for heat (key at bottom of post), to help you pick the plants that will suit you. Some chillies can be dried, others not, but all can be frozen or pickled.

FRESNO CHILLI SEEDS
***/****
Fresno chillies can be picked when green or red, and have about a 6 or 7 heat. They do not dry well.
£1.69 per pack (25 seeds) 

HABENERO CHILLI SEEDS
*****+
A very hot chilli, that again can be picked red or green. Not good for drying.
£1.79 per pack (25 seeds)
We also have a new chocolate habenero which has a beautiful dark chocolate skin.
£1.79 per pack (25 seeds)

JALEPENO CHILLI SEEDS
****
Jalepenos are usually green, but they do turn red. They are widely used in salsas and dips, and are used alot in Mexican food. They are difficult to dry because of their thick skin.
£1.39 per pack (25 seeds)

CAYENNE CHILLI SEEDS
****
A popular chilli, which is great for drying.
£1.39 per pack (25 seeds)

ANAHEIM CHILLI SEEDS
**
These large chillies are good for stuffing. They can be roasted, then peeled, to be used in cooking.
£1.39 per pack (25 seeds)

GROW CHILLI PLANTS
Sowing
Sow mid Feb-Apr. Place invividual seeds in small pots of compost, covered with about 0.5cm compost, and propagate (16-21 C) till germination (7-21 days).
Growing and Harvesting
Pot up as the seedlings grow, and keep at about 15 C. Grow in large pots in the greenhouse, or other warm, sheltered environment. To plant out, harden off in late May after all risks of frosts have passed for 7-10 days, and plant in a sunny, sheltered spot, like a patio. Picking fruit when it is green and young helps to produce a bigger crop.
  
KEY FOR CHILLI HEAT
Approximate range
*= 1 to 2
**= 3 to 4
***= 5 to 6
****= 7 to 8
*****= 9 to 10