Showing posts with label spaghetti squash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spaghetti squash. Show all posts

Tuesday's (Newtritionista) Iron Chef Ingredient: Pumpkin

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I accidentally opened two cans of pumpkin puree over the weekend, when I only used a cup... (don't ask).... so I have ALOT of pumpkin to use. Today I decided to work it into every single meal!

Breakfast was Pumpkin Oats with Fage mixed with cherries on the bottom.


I ate ALL of the oatmeal, but I must admit, I ate very little of the yogurt (I did pick the cherries out). I want to like Fage so bad, and I just CAN'T. It tastes like sour cream. :-( And I have to put SO much stuff in it in order to make it bareable, the calorie content skyrockets. I prefer flavored Chobani. Why oh WHY can't they sell them around here?!

Work... sucked. Kids threw up, kids hit me, kids did this, kids did that... hmmm. Somehow, I do end up with a satisfied feeling at the end of the day, though. (Maybe I'm just proud that I didn't have a meltdown, scream and pull out all of my hair?! I don't know.)

Lunch break could not have come any sooner! I actually got to take it a little early today (Noon) because I had to go work in the infant room from 12:30 to 2:30. (The infant room is MUCH more relaxing... I love cuddling babies!)

For lunch I had packed another amaaaaaaazing salad. It consisted of romaine lettuce, sprouts, broccoli slaw, carrots, pumpkin, cauliflower, salsa, chickpeas and black beans. I drizzled on a tiny bit of light honey mustard dressing.


Then I had some leftover carrots from the kids' lunch. They were sweetened with maple syrup, I think, like on Thanksgiving! YUMMMMMM.




AND a peanut butter cookie. But it was small!



So I know I promised myself a workout today. However, I was little on my feet the ENTIRE day (except for my lunch break), and I WAS EXHAUSTED. Trust me, I exercised today. In fact, AARP says that the average childcare worker burns 211 calories per hour. I don't know about you, but I'd call 8 hours on the job a workout, then.

I had a hard time deciding on what to make for dinner. Kris wanted to heat up some of his leftovers, so I microwaved myself a spaghetti squash and turned it into a fantastic gourmet-esque meal.

Spaghetti Squash in a Spicy Pumpkin Marinara Sauce



The sauce's ingredients:
  • 1 15 oz. can of organic tomato sauce
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 jar 9 oz. jar Festival Spicy Garlic marinated mushrooms
  • 1/2 tablespoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • Ground Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Mix it all together and heat in a saucepan! The pumpkin adds an awesome flavor and works as a thickener. I LOVED this sauce. It especially complemented the spaghetti squash.

Here were the delicious mushrooms I added:


I had some steamed garlic asparagus on the side.


Ok. Bedtime. And I WILL get in a gym workout tomorrow. I will, I will, I will, I will.

Dish and Dash

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I'm in the mood right to do absolutely nothing! I've got what I call "Day Off Syndrome"- you know, when you have a day off and you know you should be using it to do laundry, or dust the house, but instead all you do is sit on the couch watching TV, reading magazines, lounging around. So I'm going to make this a quick recap post, so that I can get back to doing exactly that!


Yesterday morning before I left for work I had a breakfast of Peach Chobani w/ some Fiber One. I'm not a huge fan of peach-flavored things, but it wasn't too bad.

Morning snack was some wrinkly grapes.

I actually went and worked out on my lunchbreak. I did 20 minutes on the elliptical, a quick mile on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the recumbant bike.

Because of my workout, I had to rush to eat my lunch when I got back to the office. I had Cincinatti Chili made from spaghetti squash and leftover mom's buffalo chili. I added in some extra canned tomatoes and lowfat mozzarella, too. On the side I had a bunch of fresh veggies.

My good friend Tiffany was in town last night. She used to live here but recently moved to northern Minnesota and I've missed hanging out with her alot! So we went to Patrick's Bar & Grill in town here for dinner and a few drinks. It was fun catching up!! I ordered the club sandwich, and ate half of it last night and the other half late this morning for breakfast/lunch. It was good! They use 1000 Island dressing instead of mayo, and it gives it an extra zip.

I have a delicious dinner planned, so stay tuned!