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Fall

Roast Veggie Bowl with Lemon Pesto Dressing

By Jessica

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.


It’s that time of year when we are constantly surrounded by
overly rich and heavy food. It’s great; I mean who doesn’t get excited for thick
and creamy soups, gravy, cookies, and pies? But these are the day’s I find
myself feeling the most weighed down. My body feels lethargic and slow, I’m
easily bloated and grumpy. Really they only thing I have to blame is all of the
rich carb loaded food that I’m likely to eat.

This year I am attempting to avoid that. Not only am I going
to try really hard to follow my own
advice, but I’m incorporating more light, veggie loaded healthy meals into our
weekly diet. Meals like this, this or this.
I was scanning through my fridge to see what I had to make
up lunch one day a few weekends ago when I remembered the early summer wonder bowl I had made what seemed like years ago (in fact it was only months). I thought it would be a good idea to
make myself a winter version with roasted, and sautéed vegetables. I couldn’t
have been happier with the result especially with this simple and bright
dressing, because pesto.

I used the vegetables that I had on hand, leftovers from
friends and family member’s gardens, but you can use whatever you have on hand,
even leftovers warmed up from the night before. Just be sure to cut the hardier
vegetables up small enough to roast evenly with the less hardy vegetables.


Roasted Winter Veggie Bowl (Serves 2-4)
2-3 purple potatoes, cleaned, and chopped into 3/4″ cubes
1/2 a small butternut squash peeled and chopped into 3/4″ cubes
1 medium red onion, peeled and quartered
2-3 tbsp olive oil, separated
Salt & Pepper to taste
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and halved
1 bunch of broccoli rabe, chopped


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the potatoes, squash and onion on a baking sheet. Drizzle with about half of the oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the vegetables in the oven for about 40-45 minutes or until the vegetables are all tender. Meanwhile drizzle the rest of the oil in a large pan and add in the garlic and broccoli rabe. Saute for 3-4 minutes or until it is tender, and vibrant green. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and serve warm.


Lemon Pesto Dressing (Serves 5-6)
1/2 cup prepared pesto 
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
zest of one lemon
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
pinch of salt


Combine all ingredients in a small bowl until well blended. Serve immediately, or stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 5-7 days.

December 17, 2014 December 5, 2017 Filed Under: Recipe, Side Dish Tagged With: Fall, Vegetarian, Winter

Maple Chipotle Turkey Chili

By Jessica

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Maple Chipotle Turkey Chili

Thanksgiving is on its way and of course I’m already thinking about what I can do with the leftovers. My priorities are on point.

Lately I have been in a love triangle with chipotle and maple.
What is it about maple in the fall? We typically make this stuff by the gallons in the spring, but I’m all jazzed up to use it in the fall. I don’t know what the deal is with that, but the combination of maple and chipotle is seriously holding the reins around here.
I’m putting it in everything, even my tea. Ok that was a lie, but you see where my obsession is going here. It’s an awesome combination that I think you should try soon and preferably with this recipe or this one. There may be more similar recipes coming soon, I know you’re as excited as I am.
This recipe is a pretty simple recipe you can make for a different twist on leftover turkey. Don’t get me wrong I love a good, hot turkey sandwich, pot pie or soup, but sometimes you just need a little something different.
Maple Chipotle Turkey Chili

 

…

Read More

November 19, 2014 November 7, 2017 Filed Under: Recipe Tagged With: Chicken/Turkey, Clean, Fall, Quick & Easy, Soup/Stew

Apple Stuffed, Bacon Wrapped Maple Pork Chops

By Jessica

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

I was cooking when Chuck walked in the house and said it
smells like fall in here. He had those big bright, hungry eyes on and I’m about
to get something good smile. Swoon. I love that look.
Food. It really is the way to a man’s heart.
I had this idea in my head since I started to think about
apple picking, you know, sometime in June. It’s my favorite. I even made my
college roommates go with me pic from back in the day.
I did the unthinkable and actually bought apples from the
grocery store. I felt bad about it, I mean they are on the dirty dozen, it is
apple season, and I live in the apple state, but whatever. Chuck had a busy
week and this is one of those things that I knew would perk him up a bit. You
see we have been eating pretty good at home, and he’s been a sport about
putting up with a few more meatless, and vegan meals for me so he deserved a
good old fashioned treat meal.
Again. Food. I’m telling you it fixes everything.

I kept it pretty simple and let the natural flavors do all
the talking on this one and boy did they. It was the perfect blend of fall
goodness, slightly sweet, and a little smoky. We should have eaten it outside
in front of a campfire, but we were too hungry.
I served it with plain couscous, cooked in a bit of broth,
and a leftover raw cabbage & broccoli slaw. We needed a bit of green in the
mix with the rich delicious main dish. It was simply divine. Chucks week long
headache seemed to ebb away a bit after we ate. I’d like to think it had more
to do with the love that I put into this recipe, but it probably had more to do
with the bacon.

Apple Stuffed, Bacon Wrapped Maple Pork Chops (Serves 4)
½ tbsp unsalted butter
2 medium apples, cored and diced
1 shallot, diced
½ tbsp maple syrup
Salt & pepper to taste
1tsp paprika
½ tsp pepper
½ tsp salt
4 medium sized pork chops (about 1 lb)
8 slices of maple smoked bacon
Optional: Maple syrup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small pan melt the butter
and sauté the apples, and shallot until they soften, and caramelize, about 3-4
minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the maple syrup, adjust the seasonings
and set aside. Season the outside of the pork chop with paprika, salt &
pepper. Cut a pocket out of the side of the pork chop to allow filling. Spoon ¼
of the apple mixture into each pork chop. Using 2 slices of bacon wrap the pork
chop so that it is mostly covered with bacon, and the opening is covered. Place
in a medium sized baking dish and cook for 35-40 minutes or until the pork chop
is cooked through and the bacon crisp. (Optional: add a drizzle of maple syrup
on top for serving.) Serve warm. 

September 17, 2014 January 29, 2018 Filed Under: Recipe Tagged With: Fall, Pork

Your First Week Back to School Meal Plan

By Jessica

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

I’m not in school any more, but I have some friends and
cousins whose kiddies are getting ready to pack themselves up and head back.
That first week can be stressful, everyone is trying to adjust to the new
schedule, and it’s hard, that part I remember.
I thought I could help those of you who are going to be
thrown head first into it by putting together a super easy 7 day dinner meal
plan. This post tells you what to cook and when, with links to all the recipes.. Everything can be cooked in under 30 minutes
and feeds a family of four. 
I know it’s awesome.

I added some suggestions and tricks under each recipe so be
sure to read through those before you get started.
Sunday – One Pan Chicken Pot Pie
Swap out the Chive biscuits in this one for the premade kind
that you can just unwrap and place on top. Also you can swap the celery, and
carrot for frozen mixed vegetables that you can stir in when you add the frozen peas,
less chopping and lots of time saving.
Monday – Crock Pot Korean Beef  w/ Rice
You can trade the individual sauce ingredients (soy, sesame,
etc.) for a premade sauce or marinade like hoisin sauce or teryiaki if you would like, but this one is already pretty easy. Also make some extra rice for Wednesday’s recipe.
Tuesday – South West Meatball Skillet
Don’t have all the necessary spices? Just grab a packet of Southwest
taco or fajita seasoning instead. Super easy.
Wednesday – Shrimp Fried Rice
To keep costs down make extra rice on Monday and use that
for this recipe, instead of the instant rice.
Thursday – Steak Salad w/ Dijon Vinaigrette 
Cooking steak only takes a few minutes, and you can buy a couple bags of salad, and serve this with a baked potato or side of crusty bread for a complete meal, then serve the leftover bread on Friday with the soup.
Friday – Minestrone Soup w/ Bread
This recipe is super versatile so here you can use frozen vegetables instead of chopping the celery and carrot. Just add it in with the spinach and you are all set.
Saturday – Tomato Sausage & Bean Stew
There’s really no corners to cut with this one, it’s already so easy. 
These are just some ideas I have had, but they are a lot of
work, so I don’t want to dive into them if you guys don’t find them useful.

August 11, 2014 February 12, 2018 Filed Under: Meal Plan Tagged With: Fall, Menues

Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna

By Jessica

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Ok I have to admit something. I have never had white
lasagna. As a self proclaimed foodie this is something that I find so hard to believe,
but it’s true, and I have been meaning to change it for quite a while. I saw
this recipe last year and knew I had to make it, but the squash season flew
by me!

Now that squash is back this is the very first thing I decided
to make, except the broccoli rabe wasn’t looking so hot, so I swapped in one of
my other favorite greens spinach. I already knew this flavor profile would work
well since I have used in a bunch of other recipes, as it was pretty fabulous.

This whole tray was quite a lot for two people so we ended
up eating it all week, and we didn’t even get sick of it, that’s a surprise.
There is something so exquisite about this recipe, I can’t quite put my finger
on it, but it was a grand slam, and even though it’s meatless Chuck said I could
make it all the time (score).

In all honesty it was twice as good the next day. What is it
about certain dishes, like stews and sauces that always taste better the next
day, so maybe you put the whole thing together and save the baking for a day or
two? Sounds perfect for a dinner party or a weekend meal no?

Squash and Spinach Lasagna

1 (1-2lb) butternut squash
Extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup butter
1/3 cup flour
3 cups whole milk
1 tsp nutmeg
Salt & Pepper
12-15 Lasagna noodles, prepared according to package
instructions

1 lb of spinach, wilted
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
4-5 fresh sage leaves


Preheat the oven to 425. Cut the squash in half, de seed it,
drizzle it with oil, and lay it face down on a baking sheet. Bake for 20-30
minutes or until the thick part of the squash can be poked through with a fork.
Remove from heat and allow it to cool and reduce the oven temp to 375. In a
thick bottomed sauce pan melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour
and then slowly whisk in the milk as well, making sure the sauce becomes well blended.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat and reduce to a simmer over
medium heat cooking until the sauce thickens (about 5 minutes), while stirring
often. Stir in the nutmeg and season with salt and pepper to taste, this will
be your béchamel. In a bowl use a fork or a masher to mash the squash into a
manageable paste. In a prepared 13x9inch baking dish lightly place a layer of béchamel
then 3 noodles length wise. Scoop about 1/3 of a cup of the squash over the
noodles and add more béchamel, and another layer of noodles. Repeat this
process once more. One the third layer of noodles spread the all of the spinach
over the noodles, and then béchamel and more noodles. Continue to squash, béchamel
and noodles until you run out. On the top layer of noodles spread generously
the final béchamel and top with parmesan cheese, and sage leaves. Place the pan
in the oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until the top begins to brown and
bubble. Remove from heat and let stand about 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Also don’t skip the sage, those leaves, even just placed on
top lend a whole other level to the flavor of the whole dish.

I’m totally interested in more inventive recipes with squash
in them. Any Suggestions?

December 3, 2013 December 5, 2017 Filed Under: Recipe Tagged With: Fall, Make Ahead, Vegetarian

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Hi, I'm Jessica. I'm an herbalist living in the great northeast with my husband Chuck, our two little boys, our dog Brody and a flock of chickens. I'm all about real, good food and good times with awesome people. I spend a lot of time outside, in my garden, and concocting potions and helping people feel their best. I also like tea, reading, and about a million other hobbies. I'm so happy your here on this adventure with me.

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