Spaghetti Squash

So me and Hercules have been on a health kick lately. My cute friend Katie had been talking how she had made spaghetti squash the other night and it was delicious, so I highjacked her and she taught me the ways for a small girls dinner. I then fingers crossed made it for Hercules and I the next week because I just thought it was so good. 

Start by cutting the squash in half and scoop of the seeds (I used a grapefruit spoon because it has those little grooves on it, it's groovy, ok enough). Drizzle a little olive oil on them and maybe some spices of choice: I did salt, pepper, garlic powder, lemon pepper and maybe something else can't remember. Note: about 1 squash will feed 2 people.

Bake in the oven for around 45 minutes at 375 degrees.

Of course for the girls dinner we just had a little sauce, but for Hercules it was enough I was making him eat spaghetti made out of the very vegetable that he hates. So I added pork sausage to the mix.

Also added a spicy tomato sauce, I bought because I was too lazy to make one.

Bubble bubble, I spiced it up a little more with some oregano and red pepper flakes.

Pull the squash out of the oven and let cool a little bit so you don't burn yourself (lesson learned the hard way).

And you have baked it the perfect amount so all you need is a fork and just shred it to bits.

Hold your breath while serving hoping your anti-squash husband isn't starving at the end of the night because he refuses to eat the rest of this "nastiness"....

Top with a little parmesan. And what.... he likes it!!!! It is soooo good and sooo much better for you (skip the sausage if you wanna be really healthy, or maybe some ground turkey?)

Enjoy!

My First Christmas Party!

I had my very first Christmas party this year in our new home, here are a couple pictures of the spread... some of the pictures came out blurry as I was trying to snap a few before people were showing up/lighting candles/preparing the perfect christmas melody/etc...

Merry Christmas from the Koehler's

Merry Christmas from Chief!

Prosciutto Wrapped Figs

Was going to make an almond fig tart for dessert for a small girl's dinner party, but a sweet friend brought a delicious pumpkin cheesecake so I switched the figs I had already purchased to make an appetizer.

All you need is this: figs, prosciutto, and honey goat cheese (to be healthier opt out on the cheese).

Lay out prosciutto

Put a little thing of goat cheese on there. The roll that beautiful fig up!

Use your plate that has figs on it, naturally.

And then bake at 400 degrees for around 10 minutes.

Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta

As I told yall in my last lemon garlic chicken post I used the leftovers for a pasta with all the rest of the other leftover things I had in my fridge.

Chicken, asparagus, cherry tomatoes... 

Saute the asparagus first because it will take the longest to become tender and everything else really just needs to be heated up. I even found a jar of marinated artichoke hearts in the fridge during the process. Cook a little olive oil and the leftover juices from the lemon garlic chicken.

For a little bit of a sauce I melted and whisked together some fat free milk, butter, pepper and parmesan cheese (my dad used to always do this instead of a store bought alfredo).

And whole wheat Farafelle, the meal wasn't terrible for you.

Lemon Garlic Chicken

A friend made this for a small dinner party and it was so yummy I just had to try it myself and probably make it a million times again. It is the oh so fabulous Ina Garten's Lemon Garlic Chicken from How Easy is That? I'll put her directions and then what I did.

Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the garlic, and cook for just 1 minute but don't allow the garlic to turn brown. I just used my garlic in olive oil from a jar. 

Zest 2 lemons.

 Add the white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt and pour into a 9 by 12-inch baking dish. Look at that delicious sauciness.

Pat the chicken breasts dry and place them skin side up over the sauce. Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper. Cut the lemon in 8 wedges and tuck it among the pieces of chicken. Then Bake!

I then roasted a little asparagus in olive oil, salt and pepper, roasted garlic, and parmasean.

Add a little wild rice..... Heaven. Don't forget to pour lots of that saucy goodness on the chicken and in the rice! I then used the leftover chicken for pasta the next night (post to follow). Thanks Ina and Mal!

Easy Copy, Paste, and Print Recipe

• 1/4 cup good olive oil
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 boneless chicken breasts, skin on (6 to 8 ounces each)
• 1 lemon

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the garlic, and cook for just 1 minute but don't allow the garlic to turn brown. Off the heat, add the white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt and pour into a 9 by 12-inch baking dish.

Pat the chicken breasts dry and place them skin side up over the sauce. Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper. Cut the lemon in 8 wedges and tuck it among the pieces of chicken.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts, until the chicken is done and the skin is lightly browned. If the chicken isn't browned enough, put it under the broiler for 2 minutes. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with the pan juices.

Southwestern Corn

I'm back: After buying/moving/decorating a new home while in the midst of Thanksgiving/Birthdays/Wedding Showers this ginger is cooking again! This was so easy and delicious I ended up eating it basically as my meal.

Start with some corn, and cut it off the cob.

Saute in a little bit of butter with some bell peppers (I did a medley) and a jalapeno for heat.

Remove half of the corn mixture to a bowl.

Before hand mix a little cornstarch and cream together (I actually used fat free half and half because it is what I had). The original recipe actually said to use coconut milk, but honestly I couldn't find that in the grocery store so rather that wonder aimlessly between isles i said to hell with it. Mix the half and half and corn together and blend, just enough so it is a little creamy but still with chunks of kernels.

Put the "creamed" corn back with his friends, and add some salt and pepper and maybe a few other spices if you wish.

Mix and then bake in the oven at 350* for around 40 minutes.

Ta Da!

And yummmmm...... it totally counts as a vegetable too right?