With the new year coming up comes along new goals about getting healthy again. First off, it’s not all about losing weight, which it seems like new years resolutions are all about. Health is so much more than “looking” your best.
Health is happiness.
Health is having more energy.
Health is having less stress.
Health is your body functioning at its best ability.
Health is taking care of yourself and your loved ones.
Health is eating nourishing foods that your body can us as fuel.
Health is doing exercises and movements that you enjoy and will benefit your body and not harm it.
Health is getting enough restful sleep (most nights).
What are your health goals this next year?
Spaghetti Squash Meal
I got this recipe idea from a friend and had to try it! It was so good!!! When squash was in season in our garden, I cooked and scraped out the squash to freeze in gallon sized bags. This is so handy for a quick meal now!
INGREDIENTS
1 medium spaghetti squash
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
6 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 5-ounce bag baby spinach
2 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
PREPARATION
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut about squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper to your liking.
3. Roast in the preheated oven until the squash is tender, about 40 minutes. When the squash is done, set it aside on the counter while you cook the bacon and spinach. It’ll be easier to handle if you let it cool for 10 minutes before taking it apart.
4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add the bacon slices. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, just until the very edges of the bacon start to brown slightly, about 2 minutes. Turn the heat down to low and continue to cook until the bacon is crispy and the fat has rendered out.
5. When the bacon is done, turn the heat up to medium and add the red wine vinegar while stirring and scraping the bottom of the skillet. This will deglaze your pan, so that all of the caramelized bits of bacon end up in your food and not stuck to the bottom of your pan. After about 20 seconds, turn the heat back down to low and add the maple syrup. Stir everything together just to combine, then add the spinach, one handful at a time, stirring after every addition so that the spinach wilts and there’s room in your skillet for more. When all of the spinach is wilted, turn the burner off under the skillet and let everything sit in there while you finish the squash.
6. Peel the skin away from the squash, then use a fork or your hands to pull the strands apart, adding them to the skillet as you go. When all of the squash is in the skillet, add the goat cheese and toss everything together just to combine. Serve immediately.
My 2nd FAVORITE Cooking Tool
(My Crockpot is #1)
My new go to while cooking is my cast iron pan! We got it as a wedding gift and first thought it would be good for camping.
I started to use them more because I started seeing how regular non stick pans have an unhealthy film on them that get into our food. Cast iron pans do not do this. The only thing you have to figure out is how to make sure you “season” your pan so it doesn’t leave everything sticking to the bottom of it.
Cast iron pans have made our homemade hash-browns, chicken and vegetables taste so much better than how I used to cook them.
Here are some reasons you should get a cast iron pan too!
#1 They are inexpensive and valuable for your moneys worth.
They last a long time! The only thing is you have to use them often to keep them from building up rust and loosing the seasoning from being used over and over.
#2 Cast iron pans are toxin free which means less toxins that go into your food.
If you think about your non stick pan, you always go for the plastic utensils to use so it doesn’t scrape your nice, expensive pan. Just think of what comes off of those utensils into your food over the high heat as the utensil could possibly get a little melted.
#3 Easier to Clean.
All you need is water and a soft brush!
#4 You can bake with it too!
I bake a lot of vegetables with it and they turn out oh so yummy!
I had to share about it because we have been eating a lot more vegetables than we used to because of how they taste with the cast iron pan!! We even ate cauliflower (one that I used to avoid)!
Give it a try!