Chicken Pesto [no] Pasta!

Spaghetti Squash is the new black.

Cauliflower rice, the new pink.

....and they have become staples in my freezer. Make large batch, separate servings into freezer baggies and take them out whenever to accompany with stir fry's, fish, chicken, sauces....whatever!

Spaghetti Squash how to video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1dcMKCaXWw&feature=related

Cauliflower rice how to video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM7DB4eUj78


Farmgirl's Full Flavor Pesto ( slighty modified from: www.farmgirlfare.com)

Makes about 1½ cups pesto

1/2 cup (about 2½ ounces) raw or roasted whole almonds
4 ounces fresh basil leaves (about 4 cups packed. but it's best if you weigh it)
3 to 6 large cloves garlic, peeled
10 ounces fresh tomatoes (about 3 smallish) any kind, quartered
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or more if desired
1 1/2 lbs chicken breast (precooked and cut in bite size pieces)
**1 cup mushrooms (optional)


Process almonds and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the basil, tomatoes, and salt and process until thoroughly combined and the consistency you like.

With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil through the chute. Add more salt to taste if necessary and more olive oil if desired.

Mix Chicken, mushrooms, and pesto into saucepan to marinate/warm.

SERVE over spaghetti squash!

Presto! Pesto.



Pesto will keep several days in the fridge, or you can freeze it. (Brenda= big fan of freezing in ready to heat serving size zip-loc bags)

hint: Cover the top with a thin layer of olive oil to keep it from discoloring.


Its health benefits: (taken from everynutrient.com)

.."winter squash group includes pumpkin, acorn, butternut, and SPAGHETTI SQUASH. Winter squash, like other richly colored vegetables, provide excellent sources of carotenes. Generally, the richer the color, the richer
the concentration. They also offer a very good source of vitamins B1 and C, folic acid, pantothenic acid, fiber, and potassium. Winter squash are also a good source of vitamin B6 and niacin. Studies have shown that, due to their carotene properties, winter squash exert a protective effect against many cancers. Diets that are rich in carotenes (especially pumpkins) offer protection against cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes."

soooo.... eat up bitches! :)

FAUX PHO (Foh-Fah)

FAUX- /foʊ/[foh]–adjective: artificial or imitation; fake.

PHO- /fəʊ/ [fah]— noun: a Vietnamese noodle soup.

(LINK: audio for correct PHO pronunciation. HAHAHAHA!
http://www.lovingpho.com/pho-opinion-editorial/how-to-pronounce-pho/)


Spotlight veggies:
-SPAGHETTI SQUASH
-Garlic
-Ginger
-Shitake Mushrooms
-Celery
-Carrots

Recipe modified from recipe book:
PRETTY DELICIOUS.
Soba Noodle Soup
by Candice Kumai http://www.stilettochef.com/
(took a cooking class from this chic @ sur la tabla. so much fun! Plus a great way to learn new cooking techniques, expand cooking repertoire/new ideas, meet people, mix it up on a tuesday night, and..... eat good food!)


In a CROCK POT (which I recently have discovered as AMAZING! throw shit in (well, preferably veggies, meats, etc ;) and walk away. For this recipe I threw in:
-Chicken Broth (4 cups)
-Garlic (3 cloves finely minced)
-Ginger (2-3 teaspoons grated)
-Shitake Mushrooms (~7 shitake mushrooms chopped)
-Celery (~2-3 stalks sliced)
-Carrots (1 large sliced)
-Salt (1 teaspoon)
-Soy Sauce (optional-low sodium-2 tablespoons)

ALSO PRE MAKE:
*Boiled eggs (1 for each serving, ~4)
*Bake Spaghetti Squash (for noodles)

***AFTER soup is cooked, @ serving time, add in (all options):
-Fresh Spinach leaves
-EGG (Preboiled, cut in half, for added protein
-Sprinkle with chopped scallions

LAST BUT NOT LEAST what make it fAUX pHO is:
1/2- 1 cup of cooked SPAGHETTI SQUASH as noodles.


Faux noodles, but NOT faux taste; taste is Legit.

Legit- [luh-jit].
1. (adj.) A modern synonym for words such as "cool," "ill," "tight," or "dope." Used to describe a noun that is of a particularly excellent quality. The slang use of this term is slowly but steadily increasing in popularity.

2. (adj.) Authentic. see legitimate ;)

oh! ps. Ginger and Garlic have incredibly healing properties :)

GINGER- Aids in Digestion, (perhaps the best herb for digestion). breaks down proteins + "aids in the digestion of fatty foods". Also, Alleviates High Blood Pressure. Ginger’s "warming quality improves and stimulates circulation and relaxes the muscles surrounding blood vessels, facilitating the flow of blood throughout the body".

GARLIC- has been attributed with "healing and health-giving powers. scientifically proven that garlic "lowers the levels of cholesterol; strengthens the immune system; prevents arteriosclerosis; purifies the blood; has strong antibiotic and anti-fungal properties".

BONUS:
ginger+garlic=
the "exceptionally complementary flavors of sweet ginger and pungency of garlic" not only add rich taste, but their combined anti-viral qualities= "excellent cure for colds and flu".

so... Bon appetite, buen provecho,

...Y Buena Salud!

Wednesdays. Produce box day @crossfit. yey. {Butternut Squash}

wednesdays, blahhhhh, sometimes on that middle of the week-day, its picking up my organic produce box that gets me to crossfit... :) Yes, I know Im a dork for being so excited...but its like a surprise each week...hmmm what will be in the box today?!??

Well, last week it was butternut squash. Which I always had seen at the grocery store, especially during the fall,thanksgiving, holidays...but never actually picked one up and took it home. Well, there it was now, sitting on my counter, and I wasnt quite sure the correct way to peel it, to get started on the recipe, so here's the video:

HOW TO PEEL BUTTERNUT SQUASH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbecyb7TgDE

This recipe has been one of the most delicious so far. yum yum yum!
(put together after reviewing a variety of online recipes)


Ingredients

1 medium butternut squash cut and peeled
1 Med Sweet Potatoe/Yam
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
**Cinammon & Sea salt (to taste)
4 tablespoons dried cranberries (I used golden raisins)
1/4 cup Blueberries

Optional
2 tablespoons chopped sage
1 onion

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Peel squash and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds from the center and discard. Cut squash into large chunks. Cut and Peel yam/sweet potato. Coat with ~2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Season with salt and Cinnamon to taste (sage optional)and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet with raisins and blueberries. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until well caramelized.

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