Category: Savor

Tuscan Spaghetti Squash Boats {Plus 3 Bonus Recipes!}

With all of the cooking and baking I’ve been doing lately, I’ve been getting lots of creative inspirations.

This dish was inspired by a meal I had at a restaurant called Food for Thought in Williamsburg when Bill and I went there to celebrate our 4-year dating anniversary.

IMG_1683Cool presentation of my spaghetti squash boat with tomatoes and pine nuts! yummy -)

After roasting some spaghetti squash the other day, I wanted to find a way to use it in a recipe along with a bunch of the veggies I had in my fridge and on my counter.

Inspired by my first spaghetti squash experience, I threw this dish together.

This meal is even better on the second and third days as the flavors kind of marinate together in the fridge. If you don’t have one of the veggies listed below, just try it with another one that you do have! Make it your own and have some fun with it 🙂

After all, cooking is meant to be fun!

**Also, it’s worth mentioning (as reassurance!) that almost half of the ingredients below are common herbs and spices, so the list may look “longer” but make note of how simple the ingredients are (you might already have all of them on hand!).**

tuscan squash

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Ingredients

  • 1 spaghetti squash, cooked and shredded (here’s how)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil (or grass-fed butter or ghee if not vegan)
  • 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (look for a BPA-free can or tetra pack)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Optional: 1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted (use chopped walnuts or almonds if you don’t have pine nuts)

Directions

  1. Roast one spaghetti squash in the oven following these simple steps. Save the spaghetti squash shell for serving (optional but it looks cool!).
  2. In a large skillet, saute onions on medium-high heat in 2 tablespoons coconut oil (or butter or ghee if not vegan) until they begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and continue to saute another minute or two.
  3. Add broccoli and cook 2 minutes.
  4. Add water and tomatoes. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook 3-5 minutes.
  5. Add oregano, basil, sea salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper and cook uncovered 4 minutes or until broccoli is crisp-tender but still bright green.
  6. Add cannellini beans and spaghetti squash strands to pan and toss until heated through. Remove pan from heat.
  7. Meanwhile, lightly toast the pine nuts in the toaster oven being careful not to burn them.
  8. Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons olive oil over squash mixture and top with pine nuts.

Looking for other spaghetti squash recipes? Try one of these below!

  1. Spaghetti Squash with Kale & Chickpeas
  2. Spaghetti Squash with Cranberries & Sunflower Seeds
  3. Cheezy Spaghetti Squash Casserole (Vegan)

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats: Easy & Healthy Breakfast To Go! {GF, DF}

It’s almost fall…and you know what that means…

PUMPKINS!

pumpkin

I love just about anything made with pumpkin.

From my favorite creamy, “I can’t believe this is good for me” pumpkin pie smoothie shake that literally tastes like pumpkin pie in a glass to pumpkin pie, pumpkin tea, pumpkin muffins and a whole slew of pumpkin recipes I plan to try this fall…pumpkin rocks!

pumpkin-pie-shake

It’s gotten some not so positive press this year due to the FoodBabe’s investigation of the ingredients in Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte (but if those are your thing, at least there are healthier recipes out there for how to make them yourself!).

Because I like to focus on the positives when it comes to our health and what we eat, here are just a few reasons pumpkin is so good for us and we should eat more of it!

  • Loaded with the antioxidant beta carotene, which the body converts to Vitamin A for healthy, glowing skin, strong vision, and to boost our immune system.
  • Contains anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce the risk of developing diseases like heart disease and arthritis.
  • Great source of potassium, an essential mineral we need to keep our hearts and muscles working at their optimal levels.

A few weeks ago, I made some “berry” quick overnight oats, and due to all of the positive feedback you shared, I wanted to try round 2 and make pumpkin-based overnight oats.

If you like the flavor of pumpkin and all of the wonderful, warming spices of fall, then you have to try this recipe 🙂 The longer I let it sit in the fridge, the more the flavors melded together. Seriously guys, this stuff is deeelish!

This will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, so you can make up a few ahead of time and enjoy them throughout the week!

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Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup canned pureed pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling (I use this kind)
  • 2 teaspoons chia seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8th tsp nutmeg, 1/8th tsp ginger, pinch clove)
  • Pinch fine grain sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup rolled oats, gluten-free
  • 1/2 cup almond milk, unsweetened
  • Optional toppings: chopped walnuts, almond butter, raisins, unsweetened shredded coconut

Directions

  1. In a pint-size (16 oz.) mason jar, combine pumpkin puree, chia seeds, spices, 1/2 tablespoon of maple syrup and vanilla extract and whisk until evenly combined.
  2. Add oats and almond milk and stir with the whisk or spoon for about 30 seconds, so it combines evenly.
  3. Cover with a lid and leave in fridge overnight or for at least 1 hour. Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup and any additional toppings or mix-ins. A tablespoon of almond butter makes it even creamier!

"Berry" Quick Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Most mornings, Bill and I have a smoothie for breakfast. We pull recipes from this list and from my “Blend It Up” Pinterest board.

Sometimes I’m in the mood for something besides a smoothie. Variety is one of the keys to a healthy, balanced diet that gives your body all the nutrients it needs. Plus, variety keeps meals fun and exciting 🙂

Today, I’m putting a new spin on a classic favorite – oatmeal!

The best part?

You don’t even have to cook it. It’s one of those set-it-and-forget-it recipes that takes the hassle out of breakfast!

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I used to eat oatmeal every day for breakfast because it’s a pretty quick, easy, and healthy meal. Oats have tons of health benefits, too!

The way I usually make oatmeal is by cooking it slowly in a pot on the stove…but that’s not always the most convenient thing to do, especially in the morning, so I tried something new.

Overnight oats!

My friend Jess and I made a variation of an overnight oats recipe a few months ago when we did a cooking demo for a group of her employees. After browsing through several other recipes online, I came up with one that I REALLY like!

I’ve already made it twice this week, and it has come in handy on mornings when I’ve been pressed for time.

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This overnight oats recipe takes less than 5 minutes to put together and is healthy, tasty, convenient grab-and-go option, perfect for when you’re feeling rushed in the morning.

All of the ingredients magically come together while they’re chillin’ in the fridge and you’re catching up on some sleep.

One thing I love about this recipe is that you can prep several jars at once and have breakfast ready to go for a few days in a row. That way, you literally don’t even have to think about what you’re going to do for breakfast in the morning.

All you have to do is open your fridge, grab a jar, and hit the road!

The possibilities for combinations of spices and add-ins are endless, so experiment with it to find what you like best! Feel free to share below if you find a combo that you really like!

“Berry” Quick Cinnamon Overnight Oats

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Berry Quick Overnight Oats

Oats

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (or half of a ripe banana)
  • 2 teaspoons chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • pinch ground ginger
  • pinch ground nutmeg
  • pinch fine grain sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup rolled oats (I use gluten-free oats)
  • 1/2 cup almond milk (unsweetened)

Toppings

  • 1 tablespoon chopped nuts or seeds
  • 1/4 cup berries
  1. Mash the banana in the bottom of a mason jar or mug with a spoon until it’s the consistency of applesauce. OR pour applesauce into bottom of jar.

  2. Add spices, chia seeds, salt, vanilla, oats and raisins to banana mash and stir to mix everything together.

  3. Add almond milk and stir until all ingredients are combined. It will seem watery. That’s normal! The chia seeds and oats will absorb the liquid, and it will thicken up overnight, so just give it time.

  4. Store jar or mug in the fridge overnight, and everything will gel together.

  5. Remove from fridge in the morning and top with or stir in your choice of nuts, seeds, nut butter and/or berries (I used slivered almonds and blackberries!).

Optional/additional add-ins: 2 teaspoons almond butter or peanut butter, shredded unsweetened coconut, or sliced bananas, peaches or any other fruit you like!

 

Mash the banana in the bottom of a mason jar or mug with a spoon until it's the consistency of applesauce.

Mash the banana in the bottom of a mason jar or mug with a spoon until it’s the consistency of applesauce. OR pour applesauce into bottom of jar.

Add spices, chia seeds, salt, vanilla, oats and raisin to banana mash and stir to combine.

Add spices, chia seeds, salt, vanilla, oats and raisins to banana mash and stir to mix everything together.

Add almond milk and stir until everything is combined.

Add almond milk and stir until all ingredients are combined. It will seem watery. That’s normal! The chia seeds and oats will absorb the liquid, and it will thicken up overnight, so just give it time.

Store jar or mug in the fridge overnight. By morning, the oats and chia seeds will have absorbed the liquid and be ready to eat! No cooking necessary :)

Store jar or mug in the fridge overnight, and everything will gel together.

Top with or stir in your choice of nuts, seeds, nut butter and/or berries (I used slivered almonds and blackberries!).

Remove from fridge in the morning and top with or stir in your choice of nuts, seeds, nut butter and/or berries (I used slivered almonds and blackberries!).

You can heat it up if you’d like or just enjoy it cold, which works well when the weather is warmer like it is now. Add more almond milk if you want to thin it out. Enjoy 🙂

Easy 5-Minute Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Indulgent

Creamy

Rich

Silky

Chocolatey

Smooth

Decadent

Those words pretty much sum up this dessert and it’s awesomeness. Seriously though, this stuff is AMAZING…and family and friend approved! I’ve served it at multiple cooking demonstrations, dinner parties, and events, and it is a hit every time.

Before trying something I’ve made, people who know me will often say, “Don’t tell me what’s in it.”

After seeing recipes for caulifredo sauce, zucchini pasta, no-cheese nacho cheese, and green smoothies, I guess I can see why they’d be hesitant 🙂

More often than not, though, they take the risk…try it…and LOVE it!

The next question follows just about every time:

“Okay…what’s IN this??”

The secret ingredient in today’s recipe for chocolate mousse?

Avocado.

Our friends couldn’t believe avocado was in this dish. They commented how rich and delicious it was, too. When I told them there was no dairy or refined white sugar in it either, the head scratching continued.

This mousse is super easy to make (takes 5-10 minutes), and a little goes a long way. You can print the recipe below, but here is a fun video that shows you how it’s done!

Use it as a dip for sliced fruit or berries, serve it as a pudding with berries or cacao nibs sprinkled on top, or add some almond milk to it (maybe a cup?) and then pour it into Popsicle molds for a frozen chocolate treat!

Or, if you’re like me, just take a few spoonfuls straight out of the blender and indulge right away 🙂 Your secret’s safe with me!

Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate Avocado Mousse (Dairy-Free)

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Chocolate Avocado Mousse

You’ll never know there are avocados hidden in this decadent mousse. Top it off with some fresh berries and raw cacao nibs for additional texture, flavor and color!

  • 6 large Medjool dates (if they're not soft, soak them in water for 10-15 minutes first, then pour off the water)
  • 1 large avocado
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • 1/3 cup raw cacao powder
  • 1/3 cup 100% pure maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
  1. Put all ingredients in the order listed in a food processor and process until it reaches a smooth, mousse-like consistency.  I run mine for about 3-5 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.

Top with berries, chopped nuts or seeds, shredded coconut or cacao nibs for a bigger health boost!

The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie Smoothie {Dairy-Free, Paleo, Vegan}

How do you know when you’ve come up with a good recipe?

When you find yourself scraping every last bit out of the blender and your glass with a spatula, so nothing goes to waste!

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That’s what happened the other day when I made this pumpkin pie smoothie.

I originally made this recipe back in June but have since tweaked it. I’m up for enjoying pumpkin any time of the year because I LOVE pumpkin!

This smoothie/shake tastes more like a decadent pumpkin pie dessert than a breakfast or snack. I could literally drink this every day!

If you like pumpkin, you have to try this recipe 🙂

If you don’t want to use the spices outlined below, just use 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice from a jar that already has everything blended.

pumpkin pie smoothie

The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

If you’re in the mood for a seasonal smoothie full of fall spices, try this one!

  • 1 frozen banana (peel before you freeze it!)
  • 3/4 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
  • 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 Medjool date (pit removed)
  • 2 tablespoons hemp seeds (hulled)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/16 teaspoon ground cloves ((just a pinch!))
  • 1/16 teaspoon ground nutmeg ((just a pinch!))
  1. Put all ingredients in a blender in the order listed above and blend for 30-60 seconds, adding optional ingredients if you want. Enjoy!

Optional add-ins

  • 1-2 handfuls of baby spinach* (it will change the color but up the nutrients!)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric for an anti-inflammatory boost
  • One scoop of protein powder (i.e., ideally, a sprouted version of hemp, pea or brown rice protein powder. I also like Vital Proteins collagen peptides, Sunwarrior, Vega, and Orgain Organics proteins. Find them on Amazon.)
  • Unsweetened, shredded coconut to sprinkle on top

*Notes

  1. Baby spinach has a very mild flavor. It will make your smoothie light green instead of orange but will also boost the nutrient content without affecting the flavor.
  2. You can buy organic, no-sugar pumpkin purée from a can at a health foods store or make it yourself following this process. Just make sure you are buying Pumpkin Puree and NOT canned pumpkin pie filling (they are different).
  3. If your dates aren’t soft, soak them in warm warm water for 20 minutes before blending, so they blend more easily.

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