foodie wednesday: spaghetti spaghetti squash is twice as nice

i have been LOVING spaghetti squash lately.  craig and i have been enjoying this delicious veggie almost every week.  if you've never tried it, you must!  it's simple, yummy and is a fabulous substitute for spaghetti.  try this super easy recipe, and you'll be hooked.

credit {here}

spaghetti spaghetti squash
makes 4+/- servings

1 spaghetti squash
1 onion, chopped
1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce (i use organic 4-cheese marinara)
1/2 cup shredded cheese (italian blend)
olive oil
salt

preheat oven to 425

1. puncture the skin of the squash several times with a knife and place on a baking sheet.  roast in the oven for 45 min or until tender.

2. in the meantime, saute the onion in a bit of olive oil until caramelized.  season with salt.

3. once squash is done, allow to cool for a few minutes before cutting in 1/2 and scooping out seeds.  then, with a fork, shred the flesh into a large bowl.

4. add onions and sauce to squash and mix well.  season with salt.  put squash mixture in 9 x 13 inch baking dish and sprinkle the top with cheese.

5. reduce oven temp to 325 and stick the casserole back in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts.

serve with a side salad for a completely easy (and yummy) weeknight dinner.  i guarantee you will not miss your traditional spaghetti dinner at all!

mangia!  mangia!

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foodie wednesday: super easy guac!

guacamole tastes good on just about everything - pita chips, veggie burgers, salad, tacos, scrambled eggs, a spoon.  if you've got a hankering for some guac, this super simple, 3-ingredient recipe will never let you down.

1 avocado, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 medium tomato, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
sea salt

gently toss the avocado with the lime juice to coat it (and keep it from browning), and then mix in the tomato.  season with salt, and you're all set!

recently, we topped homemade veggie burgers with it, and it was delish!

bon appetit!

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foodie wednesday: sesame pasta

i love this pasta!  it's great as either a side or an entree, and delicious cold, warm or room-temperature!  if you bring this to a party, i guarantee you'll get several requests for the recipe : )

credit {here}

sauce ingredients:
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

pasta ingredients:
1 pound pasta, such as angel hair
2 large carrots, grated
1/2 pound snow peas, strung and washed
thinly sliced scallions for garnish             

credit {here}

1. mix all sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

2. cook the pasta in boiling water. one minute before pasta is done, add the carrots and the snow peas to the pasta pot. drain pasta and vegetables immediately, but do not rinse.

3. place pasta and vegetables in serving bowl. pour sauce over; toss well to mix. garnish with scallions.

serves 4 as a main course or 8 as a side or starter.

bon appetit!

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foodie wednesday: roasted fennel with parmesan

as a person who loves to cook, i love trying new ingredients.  when i was at the farmer's market the other day, i came across some fennel - thought i've enjoyed it several times, i've never cooked it myself.  i figured i could probably handle it, so i purchased the bulb and headed home.  not sure what to do with it, i watched {this youtube video} about how to clean it and then googled some recipes for inspiration.

this is what i came up with:

1 fennel bulb, cut into 1/3 inch strips horizontally
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp fennel fronds, chopped
salt & pepper

preheat oven to 400

1. drizzle baking sheet with 1/2 tbsp of oil and arrange fennel. 

2. drizzle fennel with remaining olive oil and season with parmesan, salt and pepper.

3. bake for approximately 35 minutes until fennel is tender.

4. remove from over and sprinkle with chopped fronds.

this makes a simply delicious side dish for two, or you can use it atop a salad or mixed into pasta or couscous.  yum!

bon appetit!

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