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It was with great relief yesterday that Mr. Scrummy and I finally had a little chat with our neighbour who lives in the flat next door to us. A teensy tiny chat, but a chat all the same. You see, since arriving back in the UK a few weeks ago and settling into a flat of our own, it’s just been the two of us around here. On our morning walks around our new neighbourhood (pretty pleasant, although it’s most often shrouded in fog and drizzle) we were beginning to become a bit disconcerted about the lack of ‘good mornings’ or even smiles and/or eye contact we were getting from neighbours or fellow early walkers. When we were in Perth we would usually exchange a little greeting with whomever we happened to pass, but we really haven’t been getting much joy in that department over here.
Now, you may be thinking, does this therefore mean all British people are a bunch of antisocial miseries? (Quick! Cancel that plane ticket to London you got for next summer’s vacation!) Well, I’m happy to report that generally we’re quite friendly, but it doesn’t hurt to have a pet and/or baby with you to help break the ice. Our neighbour had a cute little doggie with her that sparked off our little conversation yesterday (‘Oh, how cute, what’s its name?’ etc. … you know how it goes), so we’re now thinking of asking her if we can borrow it when we go on our walks to see if it helps us make some more friends. Not really. But it isn’t a bad idea now, is it?
So being friendless in a middle England dull and foggy November definitely has a silver lining: lots of time for staying inside, getting all cozy and warm and making tasty comfort food like this sausage, butternut squash & kale gnocchi bake.
Anything that’s called a ‘bake’ shouts cheesy, oozy deliciousness to me, and this one didn’t disappoint. It has relatively few ingredients in it and yet fantastic flavour, mostly due to the crumbled sausage meat, which always makes for a great hit of taste, all enhanced by the addition of a rich tomato sauce with fennel seeds, garlic, fresh basil and a little splash of balsamic vinegar to add a bit more oomph.
I added the kale and roasted butternut squash because I thought you needed something in there to make you feel smug about that day’s veggie intake, which is what it did for me. And of course finishing up with chunks of mozzarella and a sprinkle of parmesan puts this firmly in the November-appropriate comfort food category.
As usual in this little teeny corner of the web, this was not at all difficult to make. Just roast small chunks of the butternut squash while boiling up your gnocchi and kale for a few minutes, then make the passata-based sausage sauce in a pan before stirring everything together, dotting the cheeses over the top and baking. Delicious and (almost) enough to make up for being Mr. and Mrs. Billy No-mates. Boo hoo.
Serves: Serves 4
- about half a butternut squash, chopped into smallish pieces
- about 100 grams kale, washed & chopped into small pieces (remove any tough stems)
- one package of potato gnocchi (mine was about 17 ounces – 500 grams)
- olive oil for frying
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed or finely sliced
- 4 good quality pork sausages
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 14 ounces/400 grams passata
- a large handful of fresh basil leaves, chopped
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 ball of mozzarella
- a handful of grated parmesan cheese
- Pre-heat the oven to 350F/180C. Toss the butternut squash with a little olive oil, salt and pepper on a baking tray, cover with foil and roast for 30 minutes. Then take off the foil and roast for another 10 minutes. Put aside.
- Boil the kale for about 5 minutes, then tip in the gnocchi as well and cook for a couple of minutes longer. Drain and set aside.
- Heat up a good drizzle of olive oil in a skillet/frying pan, then fry the onion for a couple of minutes. Add the garlic to the pan, then run a knife down the side of the sausages so that you can squeeze the meat out into the pan. Cook, breaking up the sausage meat into small bits as you go, for 7 or 8 minutes, then add the thyme, fennel seeds & passata and cook for a further few minutes. Finally, stir in the basil.
- Add the squash, kale and gnocchi to the sausage and tomato mixture, then give it all a good stir before tipping it into a medium-sized baking dish. Tear the mozzarella ball into pieces over the top, sprinkle the parmesan over and bake for about 20 minutes until bubbling.
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Asheley and I still haven’t met all our neighbors yet… and we moved in to our home back in July! It’s just so tough sometimes when you’re running from here to there to remember to actually take a moment and have a conversation! We’ve luckily met a few while outside doing yard work like mowing and raking leaves… but I totally need to get better at it. If only I had a puppy… that would make it easier! This gnocchi bake sounds SO good Helen! Total comfort food!
I suppose getting to know people takes time, and isn’t something to be forced, either. It has to happen naturally like any relationship, but definitely having a puppy (or, yes, even raking leaves!) can help. Glad you like the bake – I thought it was a great option for the Autumn!
I say you DO ask to borrow the dog! Haha! I bet it’s a hard time of year to meet people, with the cool weather and all. It seems here that everyone’s on a mission to get to the store, get back home, etc., to warm back up.
This bake looks delicious. I’m a big fan of cheesy bakes, so I know I’d love this. And you got it–the butternut squash and kale will make me feel proud of my vegetable intake! Have a great weekend!
Haha … OK, we’re going to do it!!! I’m sure we’ll meet people eventually. The bad thing is we both work from home (=bad for making new friends), the good thing is my parents live just up the road!
So happy you like the bake, Ashley, and you have a great weekend, too.
Hi Helen, having a dog does help break the ice, we know all of our neighbors and even people that do not have dogs that run out and give our dog treats. Who does that? Anyway love gnocchi, never thought to make a bake out of it, looks delicious!
Hi, Cheri! Oh, we definitely need to get a pet! Only problem is, I’m allergic to both dogs and cats … 🙁 So glad you like the bake. Gnocchi does indeed make a good one!
I actually think it’s a great idea to walk the neighbors dog for her! I bet she’d appreciate it, and it probably would help to break the ice and start conversations 😉 This bake looks so warm and comforting! Love all the delicious fall flavors <3
Hi, Sweet Allie! So glad you like the bake – I just love easy dishes like this for mid-week (or any time, actually). So now I’m off to scheme up ways of stealing the neighbour’s dog 😉
Lovely and comforting dish! I love the healthy ingredients you used Helen! Pinned! That was a great way to start a conversation with your neighbor!
Hi, Mira! So glad you like this and thanks so much for pinning! 🙂
This gnocchi bake look delish, Helen! Love the butternut squash and kale, so delicious!
Thanks so much, Jess! 🙂
I’m a people person and will talk to just about anyone who looks my way. When we moved, we didn’t know anyone and not speaking to other people was odd and makes you feel isolated. With dishes like this you are sure to gather people around. This looks like a wonderful comfort meal. I can’t wait to give it a try.
Oh, Cindy, I wish you were my neighbour, then! Maybe next time I make this dish I’ll open the windows so that the lovely aroma floats out – that might help us make some friends! 🙂
This bake looks absolutely sensational!!
Thank you! 🙂
Oh wow! This sounds like some goooood comfort food! I love all of your stories too! I totally understand where you’re coming from on the desire to have friendly neighbors. I grew up in Washington, DC, and people walk past you like you’re invisible! Since moving to the southern part of the US, it was definitely a culture shock to have people smile and say hi! At first, I was taken off-guard. I thought everyone who waved at me, wanted something from me – how jaded is that?! Once I got over the regional cultural difference – I found that I really liked having friendly faces around 🙂 Maybe you should carry this awesome dish around with you on your walks – I hear a way to someone’s heart is through their stomach 😛
I have to admit that when someone stops me in the street (to ask the time or something) I’m often immediately suspicious. That’s definitely sad, isn’t it? Here people are generally more friendly the further north you go (sorry, southerners, but it’s true), so that’s totally the opposite to the US! Or in villages – so I think I need to move to a village further north! 🙂
Oh Helen, first of all this bake is ALL the things I crave! I love the addition of the healthy veggies. Negates the delicious, less-than-healthy parts I think! 🙂 This is the perfect bake for these chilly days – pinning! And I can definitely relate to the lack of friends. We’re slowly (slooooowly) getting to know people in Nashville but it’s certainly been a process. Borrowing the dog might not be a bad idea haha People definitely react to animals/children!
Hi, Alyssa! I knew you’d be able to relate to this! How did you go about trying to meet people in Nashville? Did you know a few people before you arrived? We have lots of friends in the UK, but they’re all over the country, not in our city. In the meantime, then, we’ll just need to work up enough courage to go and ask our neighbour for her dog … haha!
Glad you like the bake and thanks so much for pinning! 🙂
Ummm It’s almost quite same here!!!! It is very rare that you’ll come across a random stranger who will smile at you while on the street. Usually, everyone avoids eye contact (even me, sometimes, ’cause I’m pretty sure I’ll flash my pearlies and will end up sorely embarrassed when the opposite person does not LOL)I am craving this gnocchi bake!!!! OMGoooooooodness it looks soooooo good!!!!!I can almost taste this when I look at it! Need to make it stat!!!!!
Hi, Samina! Really, it’s like that in India, too? I would have expected it to be much friendlier there! It must be just modern life, wherever you are in the world – especially in cities. So glad you like the gnocchi bake! I have some defrosting in the fridge for tomorrow’s lunch – yum!
Let me tell you something, there is a house for sell in my development and I would love to have you as a neighbor! For multiple reasons, you seem totally like a friendly person at least virtually 🙂 and I might have chances to get leftovers or be a guinea pig for you!
That would be lovely hehe!
Hope you are doing well Helen, I understand you are settling down (sorry I have been around, a lot of things lately that took my mind away… 🙁 Anyway!)
Hi, Melanie! Oh, don’t worry at all, I know what it’s like to have a lot of things going on. It’s very hard to keep up with blogging sometimes! Oh, how I wish I could buy that house next to you. Thanks so much for saying you think I’d be a good neighbour (blush blush!) I feel very honoured that you said that and hope to meet you some day ‘in the flesh’! 🙂
Oh my. This is like comfort food central right here. It’s like a fully loaded pasta bake. Talk about a sensational combination of flavours! You ROCK! I bet the UK Delicious magazine is a poor cousin compared to this. PS I also like the addition of Kale so I can feel like I am adding some goodness to the carbs / cheese / sausage. YUM!!
Hi, Nagi. Hahahaha … thanks for suggesting that my version could be better than Delicious mag’s!! I must admit I added more passata than they did, and also the butternut squash and some different herbs. Still, I thought I’d better give them the credit for the original idea 😉
So glad you like it!
This sounds amazing. What a delicious combination of flavors! I love gnocchi, and it sounds phenomenal paired with the butternut squash and sausage. Pinned!
Hi, Rachel! Thanks so much! You can’t really go wrong with sausage in a tomato sauce – it’s so tasty!
You know what they say…we get what we give… which means you will be swimming in friendly hellos in no time! Your energy will speak for itself…but cute babies and puppies never hurt either! 😉 And this dish…forget about it! I need it in my life right now!
Hi, Annie! Haha … that’s so true! Well, I hope it’s true. Thanks so much for passing by, and so happy you like this!
Gnocchi is one of my favorite dishes, yet I hardly ever make it! I definitely have to change that after seeing this recipe. What a fantastic idea to combine sausage and butternut squash into a bake. Sounds like the perfect comfort food, Helen!
This was actually the first time I’d cooked with gnocchi for ages, and the first time ever I’d made a bake with it, but I was really pleased with the result. Glad you like it, Gayle!
Helen. This is my kind of dish! I love gnocchi and all the veggie-sausage goodness going on. Pinned!
Hi, Marcie! Thanks so much for the pin. I find that anything with sausage in it tastes really good – and because it’s so tasty you don’t need to add too many other ingredients. Just my kind of dish, too!
this looks perfect for dinner tonight! Hope you meet more people to say hello to on your daily walks 🙂
Thanks so much, Tandy!! 🙂
This sounds like such perfect comfort food. I am loving kale at the moment.
We know some of our neighbours and they are really nice, others are not so nice.
Hi, Dannii! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your holiday! I’m a bit of a kale newbie and am not sure what to make of it yet. It was good in this bake and I love kale crisps, though. Mmmmm!
Helen, this looks delicious. It is actually snowing where I live, although it shouldn’t be quite yet….this time of year, bleh and I just need a good, solid comfort casserole. Plus, like you said, nothing complicated here, looks easy to make. And honestly, when it’s cold outside, I don’t mind cooking too much. Although I refuse to get all smug about the addition of kale & squash veggie intake, ha. Love it. Bursting with flavor and who can resist that real mozz on top? We love all our neighbors here, we live near such awesome people, so lucky. Our street is really fun, but not as fun as living in a “flat”!!!
You’re so lucky having good neighbours! I suppose that comes from living something for quite a while though and building up a strong natural rapport. We’ll get there some day when we have our own house!
Anyway, so glad you like the sound of this bake. I promise you it’s easy peasy to make and I really hope you do try it. 😉
For the life of me, I do not understand people that you walk right by on an empty road taking a stroll that do not at least nod or say hello! Fears that you will stop them and spark up a long, dull conversation? I don’t know, but just smile at least!
I have a package of gnocchi in my fridge that I need to do something with and I think I found just what to do with t! Sounds yummy!
I know! It’s crazy, isn’t it? I sometimes smile at them first but usually just get (at best) a slightly surprised and weak smile back. Bizarre, huh?
So glad you like the gnocchi bake and hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Haha love the idea of borrowing her dog! I need to try that. This bake looks so incredibly yummy and cheesy indeed!
Glad you approve, Jessica (of both the dog idea and the bake!)
We still have kale growing in the garden and I always love the combo of kale and sausage in recipes! Can’t wait to try this yummy recipe!
Oh, I hope you do, Pamela! I don’t always manage to make kale tender enough, but I bet you do! Glad you like this bake!
C’est sure Helen, avoir un chien ou des enfants ça aide! J’ai commencé à rencontre de gens ici quand j’ai eu mes enfants. Les voisins qu’avant ils ne disent pas bonjour ils on commencer à s’arrêté pour voir ce qu’avait dans le landau ! Peut être ton voisin il vous laissera promené le chien de temps en temps !
Ton plat me paraît divine ! C’est l’heure de dîner, j’ai faim et j’aurais aimer gouté ton plat chaud !!
Coucou, Eva, et merci beaucoup! Je suis ravie que tu aimes ce plat tant. Je l’ai mange de nouveau aujourd’hui parce que j’avais mis le restant au congelateur. Mmmm!
OK, donc selon ton conseil je dois acheter un petit chien et avoir un bebe a la fois! Pourquoi pas?! 😉
Baked gnocchi is my absolute ultimate comfort food! This looks so delicious
Hi, Lilli … thanks so much! 🙂
We avoid of neighbors…haha! I grew up on a big farm with no neighbors and I have decided I am not a very neighborly person. I would rather run in my house without any awkward conversation! 🙂 I do love this dish though! Beautiful flavors!
Hahaha … I love your honesty, Annie … just remind me not to live too near to you, though (lol!) So glad you like the dish – anything with sausage in is a hit with me!
Hello Helen — Just wanted to pop in and say I made this last week and it was so yummy! Even better the next day, I think. I used organic Italian chicken sausage and I did not precook the gnocchi at all. The package directions said to cook for 2-5 minutes so by just throwing in there with the other ingredients and baking it, it did beautifully!
I love the squash addition for health reasons, of course, but also the element of sweet it adds. Seriosly, everyone, this is so easy and a great make-ahead. I made it in the afternoon and baked it that night! Thanks, wonderful and creative, Helen!
Hi, Lori. You have no idea how happy this makes me! Thanks so much for letting me know … and also for the tip to not bother pre-cooking the gnocchi. Makes the whole thing even easier. Actually, I think I might even add a note to the recipe to let readers know they can do this if they like. It’s also a great tip to make it ahead – I love that smug feeling you get at dinner time that dinner’s already sorted when you do this.
Thanks again for your support, Lori. I’m very happy that I have a happy customer here!