Jack frost was nipping at our noses this morning. It had to happen eventually. It was the perfect day for some homemade black bean soup, Panera style. Continue reading “Panera Style Black Bean Soup”
Tag: vegan
Product Review: The Gluten and Grain Free Gourmet Cookies
Gluten and Grain Free Gourmet out of Ohio, is a Paleo bakery and food company. I met Jen at the Nourish Festival this year. She specializes in food products that fit the following dietary lifestyles Continue reading “Product Review: The Gluten and Grain Free Gourmet Cookies”
Product Review: Cocomels coconut milk caramels
Cocomels are a dairy free caramel candy from JJ’s Sweets. I’ve eating them for a while, but they sent me a new flavor to try, so I thought I would write a Cocomels review. Continue reading “Product Review: Cocomels coconut milk caramels”
Product Review : Parma Vegan Parmesan
When you’ve gone dairy free or vegan, sometimes you miss the flavor of a little cheese. Continue reading “Product Review : Parma Vegan Parmesan”
Product Review: Laiki Rice Crackers
Laiki crackers are made from rice, oil and sea salt. Nothing else.
Product Review: Amrita Protein Bars
Amrita foods has had energy bars on the market for a few years now. Recent additions to their line of energy bars are protein bars and mini bars. This review covers the protein bars and mini bars.
Savory Vegetable Smoothie
When you don’t want something sweet. A fun way to down some vegetables. Reminiscent of V-8 juice, but better. Continue reading “Savory Vegetable Smoothie”
Product Review: BFree Wraps
Out of Ireland, BFree offers delicious bread products free from all major allergens.
“…so tasty, you won’t believe they’re not wheat.”
The wraps are quite good, compared to other wraps I have tried. Continue reading “Product Review: BFree Wraps”
Product Review: Lebby Chickpea Snacks
Updated August 2019
Chickpea snacks are popping up left and right. With good reason. Chickpeas are nutritious*. Lebby snacks made them enjoyable to eat. Continue reading “Product Review: Lebby Chickpea Snacks”
Product Review: RAW REV Glo Bars
Updated April 2019
Sometimes your just need to grab a snack that is quick and easy. It’s not always easy to make it a healthy snack. These are my new favorite snack bars. Continue reading “Product Review: RAW REV Glo Bars”
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”
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!
