Fried Gnocchi with Butternut Squash and Walnuts; Opinions needed
I’m offering up this tasty little dish as a bribe for your opinion.
We had this as a first course.
We always have a first course on the weekends.
In case you’re wondering how / why we eat so much on the weekends… We don’t.
Yes we have a first course, but our main course is smaller to accommodate it.
The two combined make a reasonable meal.
If we have dessert (which is rare) the rest of the meal is balanced accordingly.
I like first courses and I like to make them.
They’re ever so much more fun than the main course.
You can play with them, make them a teeny bit decadent, make them a bit fancy or fussy or keep them simple but with stronger flavors than one would want for a main course.
All that being said – enjoy the recipe and continue on to render your advice.
Fried Gnocchi with Butternut Squash and Walnuts
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients:
- 20 – 24 fresh gnocchi
- 2 cups butternut squash in 1/2″ (1.5cm) cubes
- 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
- 10 – 15 whole, fresh sage leaves
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 4 tsp olive oil, divided
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp sweet soy sauce
Instructions:
- Heat water in a medium pot for gnocchi.
- When boiling, add the gnocchi and cook just until they all float, 1 – 2 minutes. Drain.
- Heat 2 tsp oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add gnocchi and saut̩ until light brown, stirring and turning occasionally, 12 Р15 minutes.
- In another skillet, heat remaining 2 tsp olive oil
- Add butternut squash, shallots and sauté until squash is tender and starting to brown.
- Add paprika, walnuts, sage and sauté 5 minutes longer.
- Add soy sauce and browned gnocchi, stir to combine and serve.
Now…. The opinions.
I am planning on publishing a Kindle cook book.
For those wondering – all the recipes will have color photos, and even though it will be on the Kindle platform, it will be readable on PC’s, laptops, tablets, iPads, etc. (hint, hint)
It’s a collection of our favorite first courses, but all would work equally well as a light lunch or supper… Some as is, some with a bit more of this or that added.
As I was writing and selecting recipes, I realized it was getting rather long, over 80 recipes, which I think is a lot for a Kindle cook book.
My current plan is to offer it as 2 volumes, with the option of buying the combined volume at a discounted price.
Okay, now you know the basics.
What I need help with are the covers….
Initially, I thought I would make a few different covers and ask which you liked best.
Then I decided, before I invest that much time and become to attached to any one design, I’d ask opinions early on.
So be honest, tell me what you think…. everything is open to change – colors, fonts, words. titles, photos…..
There are two sizes – the larger just so you can see it; the smaller because that is roughly the size it will be on Amazon….
Thanks for your help….
Any volunteers for proof-reading?
Colours and pic best on No.2 but pic needs moving up as too much type at top. No1. looks too old-fashioned & pic of soup is a bit messy.
I love the #2 better: not too busy yet has a rich inviting photo. Good luck with the book!
I’d use the same typeface as on your blog or on the website (and possibly, if the design features allow you to do so, make them the same) for the “Thyme for Cooking”–your brand. I’d make your name bigger and the title smaller. I like the green colors better than the pink/orange-y one, and I agree that the soup picture is less inviting than the other two. For a soup, your image for the chilled yellow tomato soup from a while back might be more eye-catching.
#2 and totally agree your name (brand) should be bigger and title smaller.
Exciting!
I like photos 2 & 3 better; Soup photo not as flattering. Spelling error in your text, proor reading, which is not of course the cookbooks themselves. I wouldn’t mind being a proof reader… 🙂
I agree with using the same font as the blog title. Because that font has a shadow or “raised” enhanced look, the book’s main title should be simple. I’d used the same font with no enhancements. Or, try Helvetica or Ariel.
Have you considered (since the intro line, “Thyme for Cooking’s” is flush left, making your book title flush left and moving the food photo to the lower right? Way back when, I was taught that the eye takes in a page upper left to lower right. Just a thought.
I also thing the subtitles should be in a smaller point size. Maybe even make the food photo smaller. Lots of “white space” is good.
I liked the top two photos best.
Fun project. I like walnuts with squash, too.
I like your choice of fonts – simple and clear. I like the color of the third one but would prefer the asparagus tart for the decoration. The food photo on the third one seems too large and busy to me. I could do some proof reading for you as long as you aren’t on a short deadline.
And how about your name presented slightly larger than it is currently (or in a brighter color).
Best of luck with this project, Katie. I love the concept.
I like the way all the print in the third one stands out against the background colour but the photo is too fussy . The asparagus in the second would be a better choice but you may need to adjust the colour of some of the font slightly . I think the title should stand out more than your brand because that is generally what people will be looking for but anyone who knows Thyme for Cooking will note that. It will serve to attract more to the blog as well. I enjoy that, particularly as for three months of the year we live in an old farmhouse not far from you on the border of the Dordogne and Charante. At least we don’t have to insulate it against the cold like you!
I’d be glad to help with proof-reading. Best photo #2, but in terms of background color and font color, I prefer #3. Hope this helps.
Asparagus with the green in photo 3. Definitely not #1. Some red in print would be a nice contrast.
I love all the images but the salmon pink colour on image one, to me, is a bit 1950’s. The asparagus is my favourite front cover.
Color #2 hands down and sure, I’d be happy to do some proof reading for you (like accommodate has 2 m’s 🙂 )
I like the green book color on #2 best. I like the aspargus, but it bugs me that it’s not on a plate … and I think the photo’s too big and there’s no “white” space on that cover. I definitely think your name should be larger. I like the fonts and colors you’ve chosen, too. I can also proof read for you, if you need someone. Good luck, and be sure and let us know when we can purchase!
I like the suggestions made by fans, and I also think that your name (mark/logo etc) should be larger and in a different typeface. I dasn’t suggest a more radical front cover. Best wishes!
And oh, yes, I’d love to proor-read! We’re getting an early freeze here in the high desert and so yard work will be reduced to a few minutes of cleaning up the debris from winter winds, meaning I’ve got to occupy myself and you can only wash clothes and scrub the counters and brush doggies so many times before cabin fever sets in.
Maggie, thanks – maybe the pic could be smaller?
Thanks, Marina!
Karen, thanks – I know that soup… I was picking the easiest photos to make pretty – but I can work on the tomato. With the green it would be a good choice.
Linda, I’m just so modest LOL… Thanks.
Meredith, I said I needed help proof reading! LOL…. I’ll take you up on that!
Thanks, Mimi, all good points – as I would expect from you with your background…. Much appreciated.
Zoomie, that third photo is too large…. Thanks – and I’ll take you up on your offer.
Gill, we’re neighbors! Almost…. Thanks for the input. Ah, yes, the insulation project.
Simona, it does, thanks – and I’ll take you up on your offer!
Phoenicia, I think it’s getting down to a green background – I like that….
manningroad, 1950’s!?!?! Okay, I get the hint ;-))
Betty, thanks on both counts (I need proof reading help!)
Thanks, Zanne…. I accept your offer, as well.
Dan, feel free to suggest something more radical… Yes, great suggestions from everyone. It will take me a little time to process it all. Get your red pen ready….