Squashing all Misconceptions

With Fall comes a wonderful bounty of squash and oh man, do I love squash! This recipe incorporates the fabulous spaghetti variety. And just in case the prospect of cooking with squash intimidates you, listen up: this recipe proves how simple it can be-no nonsense, just quick, easy and wonderful! Don't believe me? Try it for yourself! This dish is so hearty and immensely flavorful, it just may be a new favorite comfort meal!

And might I recommend pairing with a glass {or two} of red wine...

Spaghetti Squash Marinara with Italian Sausage
recipe adapted from Whole Foods

1 (about 3 1/2 pounds) spaghetti squash, halved and seeded
2 links fresh Italian pork sausage, removed from casings
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 cup spinach
2 cups prepared classic pasta sauce

Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange squash in dish, cut sides down. Pour 1/2 cup water into the dish and bake until just tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Rake with a fork to remove flesh in strands. Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat and cook sausage, breaking into smaller pieces, until almost done, about 5 minutes. Add onion and cook, 6 to 8 minutes more. Add pasta sauce and spinach and simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Portion squash into bowls, top with sauce and serve with garlic bread.

**And might I add, this makes ridiculously good leftovers!

image/WholeFoods

An Old Favorite

I first baked these tasty muffins ages ago. In fact, they were one of the very first recipes I used from Whole Foods website and they have faithfully remained a regular part of my online recipe box. But like many great recipes, even these muffins have gotten overlooked and passed aside for newer, more exciting recipes. Until this weekend that is.

Before my parents left for their Alaskan cruise last week, my Mom brought over a ton of produce she didn't want to go bad while they were away for 10 days. So there I was, a fridge full of food and not enough meals in the day to consume it all. And that's why I decided to dig deep into my recipe archives and bake up these Carrot Apple muffins. After all, there's not much else I could do with two bags of shredded carrots!

And it's lucky I did because I had forgotten just how much I love these little guys! A truly understated muffin that subtly fills your senses and nourishes your body. They're not too sweet, which I can appreciate for a breakfast item. Plus they contain all whole wheat flour, yet remain perfectly moist thanks to the applesauce. I think this recipe would also make a delicious bread, if you prefer that to muffins.

My favorite way to enjoy these muffins is heated with a drizzle of agave nectar - YUM!

Carrot Apple Muffins
recipe adapted from Whole Foods

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon non-aluminum baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
1/4 cup raw, chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 12-cup standard muffin tin or use muffin papers. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, combine carrots, applesauce, eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Add half the carrot mixture to the flour mixture, stir until blended then add the rest pf the carrot mixture. Stir in walnuts. Spoon batter into muffin cups and bake about 20 minutes or until a toothpick in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Serve warm.

image/wholefoods

Dressing It Up

I'll be the first to admit I've never been one of those girls who fills up on salad and calls it a meal...though I can get on board with a well put together side salad. It can be the perfect compliment to a lovely meal and get you closer to your daily quota of veggies. What could be better?

I think my problem is that I frequently find myself in a salad rut and can't seem to think beyond the old roasted veggies or dried fruit and nut combo with some kind of vinaigrette...boring! At least after you've had it a few times that week.

Fortunately, I recently came across this fabulous article on Whole Foods blog. Even though the ideas weren't necessarily new to me, it was a delightful reminder of ways to spruce up my greens. And just in time for Summer!

I can't wait to try these lovely looking combos!


Carrot Dressing

1 carrot, grated
2 tablespoons mirin
1 tablespoon agave nectar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger root

Put all ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth.

Per serving (about 2 Tablespoons/23g-wt.): 25 calories (0 from fat), 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 190mg sodium, 5g total carbohydrate (0g dietary fiber, 4g sugar), 0g protein

Low-Fat "Caesar" Dressing

2/3 cup (about 5 ounces) firm silken tofu
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons light soy or chickpea miso
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
1/4 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire (optional)
2 cloves garlic
Ground black pepper, to taste

Put all ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth.

Per serving (about 2 Tablespoons/44g-wt.): 30 calories (5 from fat), 0.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 290mg sodium, 5g total carbohydrate (0g dietary fiber, 3g sugar), 2g protein

Creamy Orange-Avocado Dressing

3 green onions, trimmed
1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted
1/2 cup orange juice
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Put all ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth.

Per serving (about 11oz/307g-wt.): 120 calories (35 from fat), 4g total fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 310mg sodium, 20g total carbohydrate (7g dietary fiber, 11g sugar), 4g protein

Splurges

A very unusual thing happened to me this week; I went under budget on groceries! This never happens. Never. What can I say, I delight in great food!

Like clockwork each week, I plan our meals for the week and make a shopping list using these~



On the rare occassion I can tell I will be under budget, I might stray from the list and grab a bunch of flowers or some excellent dark chocolate or some decadent tea I've been wanting to try.

I'm not sure what happened this week but I was well under budget. We're talking record breaking and I honestly couldn't tell you why. Especially since I had added some delicious lemon and thyme turkey sausage, fresh pesto that I just had to buy once I tried a sample and a good sized chunk of Manchego cheese. All things not on my list!

As we got up to the check out I kept saying how much I liked the raw honey we had just sampled, but couldn't really justify the price. At this point I didn't know how much we had spent. But my sweet husband said I should go back and get it if I liked it so much. So off I went to grab a jar, deciding it was totally worth the splurge!

So you can imagine my suprise when our total came out $11 under budget, even with all the "extras". Pure craziness!

And so I feel obliged to tell you about this delicious honey I splurged on. It's called Apitherapy raw honey by Honey Gardens. I have never tasted honey so smooth and so deliciously sweet without being overwhelming. After reading a little about the differences in raw honey I learned that it is unheated and unfiltered, so it retains beneficial amounts of pollen, propolis and beeswax. It is said to support a healthy digestive system because of the high enzyme count and has traditionally been used as a remedy for seasonal allergies. I've been enjoying it all week on oat toast with a cup of tea.

I want to know, what foodie items do you splurge on when you have a little extra?

Pizza Perfection

I've just got to tell you about dinner last night! Don't be fooled by the name because it might sound a bit unconventional, but it's a combination of two foods that are close to my heart: pizza and Mexican food! Naturally, it's called Chicken Taco Pizza and whoever put this combo together was pure genius!

With that said, this recipe will definitely be added to my favorite combos, right alongside this one and this one! Can you tell we have a slight addiction to homemade pizza?

Chicken Taco Pizza
1 frozen whole wheat pizza crust, thawed
1/2 cup tomatillo salsa, plus more for serving
1/4 pound part-skim mozzarella, shredded, divided
1 cup no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen yellow corn, thawed
1 frozen boneless, skinless grilled chicken breast (such as Nature's Rancher brand), thawed and chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Preheat oven to 425°F. Arrange crust on a pizza stone or large baking sheet. Spread salsa over crust and sprinkle with half of the cheese. Top with beans, corn, chicken and remaining cheese and bake until crust is crisp and cheese is bubbly, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro, cut into 8 pieces and serve with more salsa on the side.

Just a note~

*I substituted the mozzerella with sharp cheddar, something I would definitely recommend!
*The recipe isn't clear, but I recommend grilling the chicken beforehand and only cooking the pizza for about 15 minutes and not the 25 they suggest (unless you like a REALLY crispy crust!).
*Don't forget to use whole wheat crust to boost the nutritional content! Whole Foods makes a fantastic dough that can be found in the frozen section. Not only is it less than $2, but it is one of the best pizza doughs I've found (I don't mess with homemade in this case)!

Happy Friday and don't forget to turn your clocks forward as daylight saving begins this weekend.

A Tropical Breakfast

Doesn't this Pineapple Breakfast Sandwich look stunning?! The recipe also suggests substituting the strawberries and walnuts with banana and coconut for a tropical twist...yes please!

Pineapple Breakfast Sandwich
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple
4 tablespoons Neufchatel or part-skim ricotta cheese
2 slices whole grain bread, toasted
4 large strawberries, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

In a small bowl, combine pineapple and Neufchatel and then spread evenly on bread. Top with strawberries and walnuts and serve.

I think I might need to try this for breakfast this weekend!

The BEST Banana Bread Ever!

This morning, as I am delighting in a beautifully toasted piece of our very favorite banana bread, I realize I have never actually posted the recipe for the best banana bread I've ever tasted! Shame on me for holding out on you!

I'll even admit that sometimes, I secretly buy a few extra bananas, hoping they will over-ripen so I have an excuse to make it!

Prepare to enchant your taste buds!

Light-n-Luscious Banana Bread
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons ground flax meal
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup fat free or low fat plain yogurt
3 very ripe bananas, smashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch x 4-inch metal loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside.
Whisk together both flours, baking soda, flax meal, 2 teaspoons of the ground cinnamon and salt; set aside.
Cream together butter with sugar using a mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in yogurt, bananas and vanilla. Fold in flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Spoon batter into loaf pan.
Stir together turbinado sugar and remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top of the banana bread. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly, then remove from baking pan.

Try not to eat it all at one sitting;)

All the Other Stuff From Halloween

As promised, here are some pics of the rest of our weekend!

Isn't my husband creative?!


Showing his Raider LOVE!


I really like this one:) The picture doesn't show it, but this pumpkin is super warty!


Yep, we dressed the dogs up! Here's Laney-bug and Abby-saurus Rex!


And as for the YUMMINESS we enjoyed this weekend...

First of all, it has become our new tradition to have chili at my parents' on Halloween! This year I decided to contribute to the chili fest, so I whipped out my crock pot and assembled this:

Turkey and Tomatillo Chili with Chipotle and Cilantro
3 small dried chipotle peppers
2 tsp olive oil
2 lb extra lean ground turkey
1 cup sweet onion, diced
4 garlic cloves
1 1/2 fresh tomatillos, husks discarded and skin rinsed
1 bay leaf
1 tsp cumin, ground
1 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped (I omitted this because neither of my parents like cilantro, but I think it would be a fantastic addition!)
2 cans low-sodium white kidney beans. rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
sea salt and pepper to taste
1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese, grated
fat free sour cream

1. Soak peppers in 1/2 cup boiling water until softened, about 15 minutes. Cut peppers in half and discard seeds and stem. Reserve soaking liquid.
2. In a nonstick pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add turkey and onion and cook until meat is no longer pink. Drain and discard fat and transfer to crock pot.
3. Blend garlic, chopped chipotle peppers and 1/4 reserved soaking water in a blender until finely chopped. Add tomatillos and remaining water and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into crock pot, add bay leaf and cumin and stir until combined. Cover with lid and cook on low for about 4 hours.
4. About 15 minutes before serving, place cilantro and 1/2 cup cold water in blender and puree until finely chopped. Stir into chili mixture. Add beans and corn, cover and continue to cook for another 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese and a dollop of fat free sour cream (if desired).


Beware this is a sinus clearing dish! And might I suggest making some cornbread muffins to go alongside this chili. I'm just sayin'...

And then I baked this Honey Walnut Pumpkin Bread that Whole Foods has been taunting me with as the recipe sat in my inbox all week! I am not exaggerating when I say Chris and I polished this off in about 36 hours flat! It's that good!!


And finally, the new recipe for baked apples I made Saturday didn't even compare to my normal recipe, so I won't even bother to post it. You win some, you lose some I suppose:)

Next on the list is roasting my hubby some pumpkin seeds! YUM!

Homemade Really is Better!

Several weeks ago a friend said she had made homemade cinnamon rolls. My interest was peaked. I've always been a fan of a good cinnamon roll, but I've also heard they take a lot of effort to make yourself. Nevertheless, this was a venture I have never explored. I decided that I just had to try it, if only once, so I could know for myself.

I woke up early this morning to make the dough and get a head start on the hour and a half it needed to rise, which actually worked out fine because I did yoga during the rising period:) By the time I was finished, the dough had beautifully doubled in size and was ready to be rolled out. I should tell you that rolling it into a cylinder and cutting twelve individual rolls was quite tricky since the dough was so sticky and thin, but I pressed on thinking, "I've come too far to give up now!". Once nicely in my baking dish, they were ready to go in the oven! I say nicely, but let's be honest, they looked like either a kid or a first timer rolled them :) Thankfully for me, once I pulled the heavenly smelling dish from the over, most of the imperfections were masked since they had more than doubled in size and looked incredibly delicious! In my opinion, these are best served with a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee!

The outcome: wonderful and so worth the effort! Chris took his first bite, and said, "We are so making these for our kids someday!" followed by, "They just melt in my mouth!".

I adapted this recipe from the Whole Foods Cinnamon Sweet Rolls with Dates and Walnuts, but made these small changes:

*Instead of using walnuts I used pecans.
*I excluded the dates.
*I used 3/4 whole wheat pastry flour and 1/4 regular flour instead of vice versa.

Compare the picture of my finished product with the picture on Whole Foods website and be impressed with the resemblance:)



Notice how messy they look :(


But never fear, they came out way prettier than they went in!



Drizzle with some honey and chopped pecans. Bon Appetit!

"The stuff dreams are made of"

Football season is officially in full swing and you know what that means...it's almost Fall! The weather is even cooperating and staying nice and crisp:) All I wanted to do yesterday was ignore the laundry and enjoy a relaxing Sunday afternoon while Chris and Brad enjoyed football...ALL DAY:) I did get my wish, however, it came with a price. I was sick all night last night and it spilled over to this morning, forcing me to call in sick to work, which I don't like doing:(

Abby, showing her love for the Raiders:)



When I woke up, Chris was getting ready to leave for work and he told me it had rained last night!! I just had to get a glimpse of the wet ground so I took Abby outside and couldn't believe it when I needed a sweatshirt!. Oh Fall, you are almost here! Just one week from tomorrow! I was almost tempted to start my annual tradition early and make Chris a pumpkin pie today, but I decided to hold of until Fall is officially here.

When I was finally able to get up without feeling nauseous, I decided to go to the gym. It seems everyone else has the same idea at 9:30 in the morning! Of course it was mostly swarming with young moms! (Not gonna lie, I was a little envious:) I remembered how much I love working out at that time of day!!

Then I made my way to Whole Foods, which was basically deserted compared to a Saturday afternoon! As I usually do while I grocery shop, I treated myself to a latte. It tasted especially good and strong today! When the guy handed it to me he said, "This is the stuff dreams are made of!". It seems this crisp, Autumnesque weather has everyone in a good mood today!

And I'd just like to say that Jonagold apples are back! Can't wait to bite into one with some fresh almond butter later today!

And finally, I just pulled my Walnut Blueberry Banana Bread out of the oven, which smells amazing! The combination of that and my L'Occitane Crème Caramel Candle is enough to make me swoon!


Unfortunately, my tummy is feeling woosy again, so I think I'll rest a bit and hopefully get some studying in before Mom and I go to a knitting class this evening!

Walnut Blueberry Banana Bread ~
1 ripe banana, mashed
3/4 c. ground flax seed
2 egg whites
1/3 c. agave
1 c. nonfat buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. spelt flour
1 tsp orange rind, grated
1 c. blueberries
1/2 c chopped walnuts

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine banana, flax seed, egg whites, agave and buttermilk. In a separate bowl, mix baking soda, salt, flours and orange rind.
3. Combine dry ingredients into banana mixture. Gently fold in blueberries and walnuts.
4. Pour mixture into loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes.

Happy Monday!

Summertime Delights

Either I'm really hungry, or Whole Foods knows exactly how to make me drool! Take a look at these!

This looks really good to me because I don't typically like traditional lunch foods, so I am always looking for something new and exciting for my mid-day meal!

Strawberry and Cucumber Sandwiches


Yum!!

Firecracker Chicken Salad with Pineapple and Mango


Pork Burgers with Pickled Peaches


I just have to try this:)

Coconut Milk Ice Cream



Oh Whole Foods, you sure do know how to make me smile:)

Self-Discovery

Last night, our Mom's stopped by to see the apartment (Jeannine hadn't seen it painted yet). As she was walking around observing everything, she kept saying, "I love that. Where's it from?". My response to almost all of the questions was "Oh, it was on sale at..." or "I got a great deal at..." and to my awareness came the fact that I am and always will be a shopper! I always pride myself on the great sales I find, but the truth is, I wouldn't know about these sales if I wasn't always shopping around for them:) Ha! You know what they say, "Like mother, like daughter".

And speaking of great deals, I just got the Whole Foods email and cherries are on sale this week for $1.99/lb! Do you know what a great deal that is?! Can't wait to dig into a big bowl of these this weekend!


I think I've finally caught up on my sleep because yesterday was the first day all week I haven't needed a nap when I got home! I was so productive and it felt so good:) I actually got around to making the banana bread I've been talking about. I had a piece for breakfast this morning and I definitely think it's worth trying! Because it doesn't have as much added sugar as many recipes, it's a little less sweet(obviously), but it calls for a mixture of turbinado sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle on top and, oh my, that was enough to satisfy my sweet tooth!

And baking just wouldn't be complete without a chick flick, so I watched Pride and Prejudice and I was reminded once again of my crush on Mr. Darcy! Seriously, does that movie ever get old?

And one last thing: Happy Weekend!

All In Good Health

Good morning! Guess what? I'm off work tomorrow! Wait, have I already told you that;)

I am in a great mood this morning, but you know what could have made my mood even better? Being able to exercise this morning. According to a study I found on ACSM's website (originally written in USA Today), the good feeling you experience after moderate to heavy exercise can last up to 12 hours post-workout. How great is that? This is a very big reason it is so productive to get a workout in at the beginning of the day;the better you feel after exercising, the more motivated you will be to make it a habit. Obviously any time of the day is good to exercise and some of us aren't able to fit it in the morning, but if possible I definitely recommend it! Some of my favorite workouts are done on Saturday mornings, when the good feeling seems to last all day! So get out there and put yourself in a good mood:)

I thought this was really cute and appropriate:)


And after you've completed your exercise, make sure to nourish yourself! And why not do that with a deicious piece of healthy banana bread, lightly toasted with some natural peanut butter?

I had every intention of making this new banana bread recipe I found, but I got a little wrapped up in painting last night:) I'm still going to give you the recipe because it just sounds like such a great, healthy version of the classic. I will try to make it this weekend and let you know how it turns out!

So here it is: Light-n-Luscious Banana Bread

Wishing you good health always!

BERRY-Delicious!

In honor of my fabulous new schedule, and not to mention new found time, I baked a summer berry pie for the family to enjoy after dinner tonight!

Let me just say that I totally dig this new shift I'm working! Waking up was a breeze. I am just going to have to be very diligent about preparing everything the night before so the morning is stress-free. I can't believe how quickly the day seemed to go by. It was so good to leave before my afternoon slump hit! And to prevent the slump from making me drag, I got a great weight workout in as soon as I got home! Yay! And now I am delighting in the wonderful aroma of the warm, sweet berries filling the apartment:)

Did I mention I have a VERY happy pup right now? She loves hangin' with her Momma!

Merry Monday!

The process...




Ta-Da!

Delish!

As you can tell, I am especially into Whole Foods recipes at the moment! I have completed my menu for next week and could not be happier with the fresh, summery dishes I have chosen! Dont you just love this time of year?! This is what the Hansens will be savoring Tuesday night...

Pasta Primavera


And for dessert...

Grilled Fruit with Carmelized Orange Sauce

Yumminess for the Weekend

As I was updating my recipe box on Whole Foods website this afternoon, I stumbled upon some recipes I just couldn't resist sharing. The first is for black bean burgers. I am constantly on the lookout for alternative burger recipes so I am excited to try this one! The second is a fun dessert that is sure to please anybody you have over. I actually think this would be a good dessert for camping:) Click on the title to get to the recipe.

Homemade Black Bean Burgers



Grilled Bananas with Sweet Toppings



Happy cooking!

Bridal Showers and Flowers

Whole Foods and Crate and Barrel. That's how this Saturday morning began:)

I am currently inhaling the delightful aroma of the orange, cherry and pecan coffee cake that I just baked for Emily's bridal shower this evening! I really hope it turns out as good as it smells!

While I was grocery shopping, I picked out a beautiful bunch of flowers and when I got home, Chris had picked roses from his parents garden for me:)

So let's see, two of my favorite places, a bridal shower, seeing my sweet friend for the weekend and several flower arrangements in my house. Yeah,it has been a great day!

I'm going to let these pictures describe the current state of my fabulous mood!


I bought this vase and some other things at C&B with birthday money!

Love the pinks and greens! It's so refreshing:)

Homegrown roses!




Don't these towels put you in a good mood?


Cute little herb labels:)

Hope your weekend is wonderful and relaxing!

Spring Palate

If this picture doesn't get your taste buds jumping for joy, I don't know what will! I just got the weekly email from Whole Foods and this popped right off the page:) This amazing looking salad will definitely be making an appearance on my meal planner next week! Paired with a glass of wine and a good chic flick...what more could a girl ask for?!

Click on the link below to get this recipe!

Steak and Goat Cheese Salad