Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Autumn week in our class. We dug into a pumpkin to see what was inside. “Holy Cow, that sure is yucky”, Continue reading “Roasted Pumpkin Seeds”
Author: cbeckett3
The Question of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement
“However, each one of you must also love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33 (Yes, even during menopause)
A few people asked me if I could discuss menopausal issues. Many women are struggling with the hormone replacement issue. We all know synthetic hormones should be avoided, but the issue of bioidentical hormones is a difficult decision to make.
Just so you know Continue reading “The Question of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement”
Move As If Your Life Depended On It.
“Motivation is a tough nut to crack.” -Jack LaLanne
Being physically inactive is considered a real health threat that leads to premature disability or even death. They even have a name for it Continue reading “Move As If Your Life Depended On It.”
Dessert Recipes
Dessert Recipes
(click on recipe name to view)
Cheesecake Bites- gluten free, dairy free
Healthified Stone Fruit Crisp
Late summer is a perfect time for fruit crisp. There are so many recipes out there, however they are loaded with sugar! I was seeking a healthier fruit crisp that was low in sugar as well as being gluten and dairy free. This is the recipe I came up with. Less sugar with a few healthier additions as well. If you use fruit that is Continue reading “Healthified Stone Fruit Crisp”
Growing Food in Autumn
“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground..” Genesis 3:19
Autumn is almost here. The garden is winding down, but I still have some vegetables growing. The sweet potatoes are Continue reading “Growing Food in Autumn”
I’d Eat It If It Didn’t Taste So Bad…
On Retraining Your Taste Buds.
Oh, if only we could automatically love those new foods when we have to change our diets. The main reasons we struggle with new or different Continue reading “I’d Eat It If It Didn’t Taste So Bad…”
Zucchini Apple Spice Loaf with Cinnamon Sugar Topping
This week I used the last zucchini in the garden. I used it to make this sweet bread recipe. It is tasty and moist with lots of good things in it like zucchini, apples, raisins, flaxseed Continue reading “Zucchini Apple Spice Loaf with Cinnamon Sugar Topping”
Snacks
13 Terrific Reasons to Grow Your Own Food.
I thoroughly enjoy growing my own food in the garden. Each year I switch it up a bit. We’ve grown winter squash, summer squash, greens, herbs, melons, nightshades and more. If you’ve never considered growing your own food, or you’re sitting on the fence about it, here are some of the best reasons to grow food in the garden. Continue reading “13 Terrific Reasons to Grow Your Own Food.”
Dinner Recipes
Roasted Butternut Squash, Spinach and Mushrooms
(Scroll to bottom for recipe)
Roasting vegetables gives them so much flavor. This is one I love to cook in the fall, especially with squash from the garden. Ingredient amounts are approximate. I usually just eyeball it, but I tried to come up with quantities for those who prefer that. It’s really hard to mess up this recipe other than burning it. You can play with the spices you use if you like.
Cubing the squash is a good arm workout, like real life exercise.
After tossing squash in oil, roast in the oven. Caramelizing gives a good flavor. You can even just eat it like that. Parchment paper is a wonderful thing. What a time saver and cookie sheet saver. Where have you been all my life?
Brown the onion in a pan with the oil. Then add the mushrooms and cook down. The shiitake are drier mushrooms, not much liquid comes out of them, however the baby bella I’ve used cook more liquid out. You will want to let that evaporate so it is not soupy.Then add the spinach. It looks like a lot, but as you can see, it cooks down to nothing. You can even add more if you like more spinach.
Toss the squash with the base and enjoy! You can probably add many different types of roasted vegetables to the base mix. However, my favorite is the butternut squash.
Roasted Butternut Squash, Spinach and Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 1 good-sized butternut squash
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms (any type is fine, I’ve also used baby bella)
- 4 big handfuls of spinach
- 2 T avocado oil + 2 T more
- 1 t onion powder
- 1/2 t garlic powder
- 1/2 t sea salt
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Cube butternut squash.
- Take 2T avocado oil and stir in onion powder, garlic powder and salt. Pour over cubed squash. Stir until well coated.
- Lay squash on cookie sheet in single layer, spreading evenly. Cook squash roughly 40 minutes in the oven turning half way through. You may need to adjust the time depending on how much squash is on the pan. It should be nicely caramelized.
- While the squash is cooking, pour the other 2T avocado oil in a large pan. Place the onions in the pan and cook until caramelized. Stir frequently to avoid burning.
- Add mushrooms and cook them down letting any liquid from them evaporate. Add spinach and cook until reduced.
- Add roasted squash to the base mixture (onion, mushroom and spinach) Toss until well mixed.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Enjoy!
Peppers and Planks 