Turkey & Spaghetti Squash

Mamma mia!  Almost like real spaghetti and meatballs. 






Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
1 can of tomato paste
1/4 cup of salsa
4 oz of turkey
1/2 bell pepper
1/2 onions
1 carrot
1 tomato
2 cloves of garlic
savoury
paprika
3 tsp of olive oil

Instructions:
Pierce multiple holes in the squash.  Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Saute onions until browned in olive oil and garlic. 
Add finely cut carrot, bell peppers and hot water, as the hot water boils off it will cook the carrots.
Add tomato paste, savoury and paprika.
Add diced turkey.
Add salsa and tomato.  I add salsa for an extra kick of flavour, you could easily add some jarred pasta sauce.

When squash is done, remove from heat and allow to cool enough to handle.
Cut squash in two.
Remove the seeds and softened middle.
Use a fork to tine the edges and remaining squash, it will break apart into spaghetti like strands.
Place squash on plate and top with turkey mixture.

Much Improved Muffins

You can't really tell the difference by looking at them from the Medicore Muffins but there is a world of difference in the taste.

A little bit of canola oil, some bananas, raisins and rice milk gives them actual taste!




Ingredients:
1 package of gluten free muffin mix
2 eggs
1/2 of pure applesauce, i.e., boiled apples with no added sugar
1/4 canola oil
3 mashed bananas
1/2 cup of raisins
1 cup of rice milk
1/2 cup of potato starch

Instructions:
Mix the applesauce, canola oil, rice milk & eggs with a blender.
Blend the mashed bananas into the mixture. 
Slowly add flour mixture and stir.
Use a spoon to fold raisins into mixture. 
Spoon into cupcake pan, I made 24 regular and 24 mini sized ones.
Bake at 350 for 17-22 minutes.

Tip: Use bananas that are starting to go bad, they are already soft and it makes them easier to mash.  

Garlic Roast Chicken

My first time cooking an actual whole chicken and it was absolutely delicious.





Ingredients:
Whole chicken
1 1/2 potato for each person
assorted vegetables, I used a frozen Thai mix
2 cloves garlic
paprika
black pepper
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 cup of diced onions 

Instructions:
Remove skin from chicken.
Crush garlic, mix with olive oil, paprika, black pepper.
Rub spice mixture all over chicken.
Place in covered pan and bake at 350.  You can google how long to bake based upon the weight of your particular chicken.

Bake potatoes in microwave.  In my microwave it take approximately 11 for 3 medium sized potatoes.

60 minutes before the chicken is cooked, add onions to pan.
40 minutes before the chicken is cooked, quarter potatoes and add them to the pan.
30 minutes before the chicken is cooked, prepare frozen vegetables according to the directions on the bag.  
20 minutes before the chicken is cooked, turn potatoes over and remove cover from pan.

Tip: You can leave the skin on but removing it is an easy way to cut calories. 

Apple Raisin Pudding

No picture!  I made this at my parents house and didn't have my camera.

Ingredients:
6 apples, preferably just picked from a grandma's tree:)
1/2 cup of raisins
1/4 corn startch
water  (preboil in kettle)
splenda or other sweetener to taste

Instructions:
Peel and slice apples.
Place in saucepan.
Add enough boiled water to cover apples.
Stir frequently.
Boil apples to preferred consistency.   I like them with a little bit of resistance, not mushy.
Add raisins, continue to stir.
Add cornstarch to 1/2 cup of boiling water. 
Mix well, add to apples & raisins.

Tip: I'm sure this tastes excellent with yogurt or even ice cream!  I miss dairy. 

Warm Spinach Salad & Those Tasty Homemade Chips

The mixture of cool spinach and warm vegetables is a wonderful way to add some extra ordinary to an ordinary meal. 





Ingredients:
turkey
spinach
bell pepper
potato
tomato
olive oil
garlic, paprika, tumeric

Instructions:

Potatoes: 
Pierce potatoes with a fork and bake in microwave.
When the potatoes are done, remove from microwave and let stand for 5 minutes.
Slice the potatoes and brush with olive oil.  Broil in the oven, turning when browned.

Salad:
Sauté the onions in olive oil until browned.
Add green peppers and tomato. 
Add the chopped turkey and spices, continue to stir occasionally.
Spoon mixture onto a bed of baby leaf spinach. 

Tip: Don't fully cook the green peppers, just enough to warm them.  It will give the salad a nice crunch. 

Tip: Any vegetables on hand can be used in this recipe.

Failed Experiment

I can not even take a picture of these things, they look so yucky!  I attempted to make rice krispie squares out of actual brown rice.

However, so I don't try and make this again, I am creating this post.

Ingredients:
1 cup pure applesauce
4 cups of brown rice, already cooked
1 package of marshmallows

Instructions:
Melt marshmallows and applesauce on the stove top, stirring constantly.
When liquid, add rice.
Stir well and spoon into a large pan.
Smooth out the mixture and chill.

Tip: Do not try this at home!

Fake Spaghetti & Real Shrimp

Surprisingly, spaghetti squash is actually delicious.  It looks like spaghetti, and is shaped like spaghetti but does not quite taste like spaghetti.  A very good substitute though.




Ingredients:
spaghetti squash
shrimp
onions, watercress, broccoli, spinach, carrot, snap peas
garlic, basil, paprika, oregeno
3 tsp of olive oil

Instructions:
Pierce multiple holes in the squash.  Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

20 minutes before squash is done
Add shrimp, 2 tsp of oil and 1 diced clove of garlic to heated pan.
Toss until browned.
Add veggies except spinach and onions to shrimp.
And 1 cup of water.
Cook on high, letting the water boil off. 

When squash is done, remove from heat and allow to cool enough to handle.
Add spinach and spices to pan.
Create a clear space in the middle of the pan, add onions and remaining oil to brown them.
Mix all together, lower heat.

Cut squash in two.
Remove the seeds and softened middle.
Use a fork to tine the edges and remaining squash, it will break apart into spaghetti like strands.
Place squash on plate and top with shrimp mixture.

Tip: Pasta sauce could be added to this meal.