Vanessa Whiteside

Name: Gnocchi with Italian Sausage, Yellow Squash and Spinach
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 4-5 servings
Ingredients: 14 oz. gnocchi; 1 lb. ground, mild Italian sausage; 2 T. olive oil; 2 diced yellow squash; 3 diced garlic cloves; 1/2 bag of baby spinach; 1/2 pint of cherry tomatoes; Salt and Pepper; Shredded Parmesan

How to Make Wood Bead Garland

September 10, 2020 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.

Why buy wood bead garland on Etsy for upwards of $30 when you can make it yourself for dollars less?

I’d like to teach you how to craft your own version in less time than it would take you shop for it online and have it shipped to your house. If you can find a strand of wood bead garland at a home decor store like At Home or Hobby Lobby, you’ll save much more money than if you bought multiple bags of beads ($7-9 each!). I bought 12′ of holiday wood bead garland (see below) for $5.99 from At Home.

The finished garland looks beautiful when displayed with farmhouse design or draped against bohemian decor.

Roll up your sleeves. Let’s get crafty!

SUPPLIES AND TOOLS:

Wood bead holiday garland
Jute twine
Jute tassel
Wood tag
Black chalkboard paint
Paint brush
White chalkboard marker

STEP 1: Remove the wood beads from the roped garland and remove any tags. (I bought this strand from At Home for less than $6 and it had enough beads for three wood bead garland projects.)

STEP 2: Cut a length of jute twine to the length of garland you want. (I simply made a rough estimate of my bead quantity and cut the twine to suit that length.)

STEP 3: Attach the jute tassel by knotting the twine to it. (I found these tassels at Joann’s for less than $3 each.)

STEP 4: Slide each wood bead one-by-one down the length of twine. The first 1-3 beads will cover the tassel’s leftover loop hiding it from view. Continue adding beads until you have approximately 3-4 inches of twine left as excess at the end of your DIY garland.

STEP 5: Using the remaining length of twine beyond the last bead, loop it into the wood tag and knot it firmly. (I wanted to use black chalkboard paint on the tag I used to eventually hand script a word on it. To do so, brush on one coat of chalkboard paint, allow to dry, add another coat of paint, and once dried you can use a white chalk marker to script a word on our tag.)

STEP 6. Tuck any excess twine inside the first and last beads on the garland, and you’re done!

Now, where will you drape your garland to adorn your interior design?

Gnocchi with Italian Sausage, Yellow Squash and Spinach

August 24, 2020 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

Do you shop at the farmers’ market in your town? Lately, I’ve traveled downtown to the market looking for locally grown vegetables and Kansas sourced meat to use in new recipes. Since becoming a gardener, I’m more interested in knowing where my food comes from and how it is treated before I eat it.

The benefit of shopping local is ten-fold, but some of the primary reasons I enjoy it is because 1.) The produce is organic, larger in size and better in flavor 2.) I’m supporting the livelihood of Kansas farmers and 3.) I enjoy making friends with fellow foodies and talking about recipes.

I prepared Gnocchi with Italian Sausage, Yellow Squash and Spinach after purchasing two yellow squash and a box of fresh pasta from market vendors. Inspired by the ingredients and similar recipe by Gordon Ramsey, I prepared an easy, weeknight meal that was full of flavor and layered in texture. The pasta dish turned out to be scrumptious! I loved the pillowy soft gnocchi (made from potatoes!) with the chunky veggies and sausage crumbles. Consider making it for your family this week!

One Delightful Life

4-5 servings

Gnocchi with Italian Sausage, Yellow Squash and Spinach

A hearty and healthy meal perfect for using up fresh vegetables.

15 minPrep Time

20 minCook Time

35 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

14 oz. gnocchi
1 lb. ground, mild Italian sausage
2 T. olive oil
2 diced yellow squash
3 diced garlic cloves
1/2 bag of baby spinach
1/2 pint of cherry tomatoes
Salt and Pepper
Shredded Parmesan

Instructions

Brown the ground sausage on medium high until broken down and caramelized.
Remove sausage from the pan and drain on a plate of paper towels.
In a separate pan, add the olive oil over medium heat.
Add the diced yellow squash and stir occasionally until the squash is softened.
Add the diced garlic and stir until incorporated.
Add the spinach, tomatoes, and stir.
Add the drained sausage to the squash, garlic, spinach, and tomatoes. Stir until well mixed and turn the stove on low.
In a large saucepan, bring salted water to a rolling boil.
Add the gnocchi and stir it occasionally for 2-3 minutes until the pasta floats. Using a slotted spoon, drain the gnocchi by the spoonful and add it to the pot of sausage and vegetables. Gently fold it all to incorporate the ingredients.
Add salt and pepper and sprinkled Parmesan on each serving while hot.

Nutrition

Calories

1945 cal

Fat

83 g

Carbs

195 g

Protein

106 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info

You could also sprinkle a few ribbons of fresh basil on top of your warm bowl of pasta. I didn’t choose to do that since the gnocchi I purchased was already flavored with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. If you love tomatoes, add more! Wish this recipe included mushrooms? Don’t have yellow squash but zucchini instead? Trust yourself to swap or add ingredients!

If you make this recipe for two people, you’ll have at least two servings leftover for the next day’s lunch! Of course, let me know what you think of this yummy weeknight meal in the comments below.

Oh, and if you LOVE squash, try my recipe for Buttery Spaghetti Squash with Garlic and Feta. It’s a delightful side dish for any fall season meal.

Bubbly Strawberry Mint Mojito

July 20, 2020 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

When I polled my Instagram audience if they wanted this recipe after previewing it, the answered was 100% YES. I completely understand why because and it is indeed 100% REFRESHING! Bubbly Strawberry Mint Mojito is the summer drink you’ve been craving. You just didn’t know it!

Like a lot of gardeners, my mint plant is growing faster than I can use it up. A mojito recipe is the perfect way to make use of the summer herb, and its herbaceous flavor adds a cooling effect to this cocktail. Not a gardener? The mint sold in your local grocery store’s produce department will suffice — just remember to keep it refrigerated until use.

This recipe is for one cocktail but you could easily maximize it to make a pitcher to serve guests at your brunch or outdoor summer party. It’s so good thanks to its fresh ingredients and the bubble’s effervescence.

Have you ever heard of “muddling” herbs? You may have seen a bartender do it when crafting a cocktail. By using a cocktail muddler, or in my case the end of a wooden spoon, you simply press and twist the mint in the bottom of a sturdy wine glass. Just in case you would like a visual for how to do it, here’s a helpful instructional link.

I used strawberry flavored Waterloo Sparkling Water for extra fruit flavor in combination with sliced fresh strawberries. You will also need sugar, lime wedges, and aged silver rum over ice.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.

I know you’re going to adore this recipe for Bubbly Strawberry Mint Mojito! Appreciate fruit cocktails? You’ll also like my recipe for Blackberry Mint Fizzy Mojito! Want a similar drink but without the booze? Check out this recipe for Cucumber Mint Raspberry Detox Water.

Salude!