Easy Roasted Acorn Squash

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Acorn squash is in season during the Fall and Winter. These babies are quite versatile, a few of my favorite ways to prepare them are to bake and fill them, bake then mash them, or straight up roasted. Okay, I confess, my favorite way to prepare and eat acorn squash is to roast and I even eat the skin because it becomes soft enough to do so and it’s just so good.

Start with one or even two whole acorn squash. Remove the sticker and wash the outside. Scrub with a veggie cleaning brush if you have one. Then break out a really sharp kitchen knife. I encourage you to sharpen your favorite kitchen knife before taking it to the squash, it’s got a tough exterior!

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Start by cutting a little off the bottom, then you have a flat end of the squash. Carefully, cut in half, you may need to rock the knife back and forth to get it into the squash and keep your hands and fingers out of the way. BE very careful! I cannot stress the enough! Once the squash is in half, scoop the seeds out. You can set aside for later and roast the seeds as well. About.com has a great recipe to try.

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Take each half and place cut side down. Use the ridges in the acorn squash as guidelines to cut into wedges like shown. Place on a backing sheet and brush with a high heat oil such as coconut oil or grapeseed oil. Season with your favorite spices, below I used Himalayan sea salt, black pepper, and dried basil. Roast for 35 minutes at 400 degrees or until soft.

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Arrange on a plate and serve!

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Roasted Acorn Squash

Ingredients:

1 or 2 whole acorn squash

1 T. coconut oil

1t. dried basil

Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Remove sticker and wash acorn squash.

3. Break out your sharpest kitchen knife and even take a minute to sharpen it, this will make cutting the acorn squash much easier.

4. Carefully, cut the bottom stem off of the squash, this will give you a flat surface.

5. Sit the squash on the now flat bottom and carefully cut in half. Be careful to keep your fingers and hands out of the way.

6. Once the squash is cut in half, scoop the seeds out. You can set aside for later and roast the seeds as well.

7. Take each half and place cut side down. Use the ridges in the acorn squash as guidelines to cut into wedges.

8. Place on a backing sheet and brush with a high heat oil such as coconut oil or grapeseed oil. Season with your favorite spices, such as Himalayan sea salt, black pepper, and dried basil.

9. Roast for 35 minutes at 400 degrees or until soft.

10. Enjoy!

Hemp Seed Pesto (Dairy Free)

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I was craving salad for dinner tonight but wanted to add some oomph to it without adding meat. I started by hard-boiling some eggs. I noticed my basil plant was looking rather full out on the patio, so I took my scissors to it with pesto in mind, hehe.

This recipe is based from a great website called www.choosingraw.com. This is a great clean eating recipe made from all fresh, whole foods. Hemp seeds are used instead of traditional pine nuts or walnuts for this recipe. I love hemp seeds as they are a good source of healthy Omega-3s fats, high in protein, and high in: Iron (20%), Thiamin (20%), Phosphorus (45%), Magnesium (45%), Zinc (20%), and Manganese (110%). Hemp seeds are also a good source of: Riboflavin (6%), Vitamin B6 (8%), Folate (8%), and contain 3 grams of fiber in a 3 Tablespoon serving.

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Hemp Seed Pesto

Ingredients:

1 cup shelled hemp seeds (Manitoba Harvest is my preferred brand)

1.5 –2 cups fresh basil leaves, measure out by firmly packing into measuring cup

1 garlic clove

2 T. olive oil

2/3 cup water

sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Raid your basil plant and collect as many leaves as possible. Shoot for 1.5 to 2 cups. You can also use store bought. Rinse well.

2. Add hemp seeds to food processor and pulse for about a minute, until the seeds are ground up.

3. Add basil leaves, garlic clove, olive oil and pulse in food processor to combine.

4. Add water to make a creamy consistency.

5. Serve over fresh salad immediately or store in fridge.

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Easy Weeknight Grass-Fed Beef Taco Salad

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Make life easy on yourself during the week with this easy beef taco salad! Cook the ground beef, add seasoning and water, cover and let it simmer. Then prep your veggies, pull out the organic non-GMO (recommended) chips and salsa and there you go!

Source: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/taco-seasoning-i/Detail.aspx

Ingredients:

* 1 tablespoon chili powder

* 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

* 1/4 teaspoon onion powder (optional)

* 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

* 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

* 1/2 teaspoon paprika

* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

* 1 teaspoon sea salt

* 1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container.

Taco Salad:

Ingredients:

1# ground beef (preferably grass-fed beef or organic – no added hormones or antibiotics!)

1 batch Taco seasoning from recipe above

Lettuce – romaine, mixed field greens

Avocado, cut into chunks

Salsa of choice, Drew’s brand is really great or Publix Greenwise

Plain Greek yogurt as substitute for sour cream, can also mix with salsa – very yummy!

Tortilla Chips or tortillas if making tacos (whole grain)

Shredded cheese (optional)

1 can or 2 cups cooked Pinto beans

Method:

1. Cook beef thoroughly in deep skillet on medium heat.

2. Add prepared taco seasoning plus ¾ cup water (just like the packets!)

3. Bring to a boil, then turn down to simmer. Cover and let simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until water is absorbed.

4. For salad, spread lettuce onto place and top with beans, meat, avocado, cheese, and salsa.

5. For tortillas, fill with lettuce, beans, meat, salsa, avocado, and cheese.

Enjoy!!

Cool Off With Red Raspberry Fizz

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Berries are in season mid-summer and a great way to enjoy them is in a cool drink. I picked up some fresh Driscoll’s berries at Publix and was inspired to create a mocktail, perfect on a hot day. I specifically seek out Driscoll’s berries if local are not available. They use high quality practices to grow delicious berries and none of their berries are GMO (genetically modified) or irradiated. That gives me peace of mind Smile

Raspberries are low in sugar, high in fiber, and a good source of Vitamin C. They also contain a ton of antioxidants which fight free radicals in our bodies and help lower inflammation.

To make this drink, pour 8 ounces of club soda (pure carbonated water) into a glass. Add ice if you like. Grab a handful of fresh mint leaves and fresh red raspberries. Wash thoroughly, then toss into glass. Find a cozy spot outdoors and enjoy!

This fun drink is delicious and low in calories and sugar. The mint and raspberries are a lovely cooling combination.

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Ingredients:

8 oz club soda (pure carbonated water)

small handful of fresh mint leaves

small handful of fresh red raspberries

Method:

1. Pour club soda and ice (optional) into a glass.

2. Wash mint leaves and raspberries thoroughly.

3. Toss mint and raspberries into glass.

4. Sit back and enjoy!

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Whole Foods at a Fraction of the Price

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I am a huge fan of Vitacost.com and I also love whole foods. Read on for more information on what whole foods you can get from Vitacost with just a few key strokes.

Unless you’re talking price, a fraction of something usually isn’t ideal. What is ideal is paying just a fraction of the price for something complete, fulfilling and wholesome. And what could be more wholesome than whole foods?

Whole foods, a term heard frequently these days, are foods that haven’t been processed and contain no added ingredients—colors, flavors, fillers or preservatives. While certainly better for your health, whole foods can strain your budget, especially when they’re organic.

To better satisfy your body—and your bank account—shop at Vitacost.com for whole foods in nearly every grocery category. Though we don’t carry fresh fruits and vegetables, at Vitacost you’ll find a variety of certified organic, all-natural, preservative-free options.

And while you might normally have to run to one store for organic foods and another for your gluten-free items, at Vitacost, you’ll find it all. The best part of the whole shopping experience? You don’t have to leave home to get what you need. And you won’t be tempted by processed cheese balls—because we don’t carry ‘em.

Click your way to the checkout after browsing these go-to grocery sections:

Produce: Just as you would in the supermarket, head straight to the produce section and fill your cart with good-for-you fruits and veggies—the more colorful the better. Vitacost offers a variety of canned, dried and pureed organic fruits and vegetables. Many of our featured natural brands harvest fruits and vegetables at their prime ripeness, ensuring you get the freshest possible products. And choosing organic means your produce is grown without the use of pesticides or chemicals.

Dairy: In the Vitacost (non-) dairy aisle, you’ll find a variety of natural, plant-based milks, derived from nuts (almonds), rice and coconut. You’ll also find goat’s milk, which is naturally rich in vitamin D and easier for some to digest than cow’s milk.

Meat: While Vitacost doesn’t carry fresh meat, we have a great selection of natural, freshly harvested fish, including tuna, salmon, herring, sardines and anchovies—plus crab meat, oysters and clams. There’s also organic beef and chicken stock for soup and other recipes. You can also fulfill your protein needs with beans (we carry just about every kind, from aduki to soy) and lentils.

Breads, Pasta & Grains: Spaghetti night just got a lot more exciting. At Vitacost.com, you’ll find dozens of healthy pastas, from gluten-free and low-carb to whole wheat and brown rice, which can be enjoyed with homemade garlic bread, prepared from one our healthy bread mixes. Or, choose from whole loaves of bread, rolls, or even English muffins, many of which are gluten free. We also carry organic brown rice, wild rice, couscous and other favorite grains.

Baking: If you’re committed to making your own whole foods from scratch, you can choose from natural flours, plant-derived sweeteners and other baking essentials.

Find your inspiration for wholesome cooking by shopping for whole foods at Vitacost.com.

This article has been provided by the folks at Vitacost.com. Vitacost.com has been selling discount vitamins since 1994. Since then it’s grown into one of the biggest online marketplaces for healthy living essentials-with vitamins and supplements being just one of their many helpful categories! Vitacost.com’s goal is to provide you with the best nutritional supplements, natural foods, sports nutrition and products like green coffee bean extract to help with your health and wellness. Vitacost.com is not affiliated with this blog, and isn’t responsible for content outside of this article.

By: +Elizabeth Lotts writer for Vitacost.com