Healthy Comfort Food Part 2....Zucchini Lasaga and Eggplant Parm!

I love comfort food. Especially pasta!!! Unfortunately most of the pasta you find at the store is full of empty calories, chemicals and processed crap we don't really need. When you're trying to live a healthier lifestyle, a big bowl of pasta just isn't gonna o help you reach your goals. 

I've posted about healthy comfort food before...spaghetti squash with home made basil pesto (paleofied).....and Zoodles - I've been peasantly surprised (ok shocked) about how these go to comfort food staples without pasta are not only super EASY to make....but they taste better and are just as filling!!!

Both of the recipes below use my Easy, Fresh, Homemade Sauce. Next time you are at the store...check the sugar content in a jar of spaghetti sauce...and the ingredients....

This sauce tastes better to not just me, but my husband AND little girls, and it's clean. I know every single thing I put in it and I can feel good about giving it to my family.

I eyeball everything when I cook and I encourage you to do the same - these recipes are approximate because I adjust as a I go based on how it's tasting...this is a good base line to work from though to make your own specialtiy ;)

Meghann's Easy, Fresh, Homemade Sauce:

Ingredients

4-6 Tomatoes chopped

Garlic - I usually use the garlic in the jar that's already minced, I've been into the roasted garlic lately and I throw in 1-2 spoonful

Italian Seasoning - check your labels, you want to recognize the names of everything in that little jar

Fresh Basil

Olive Oil

Tomato Paste (the small can...I need to be better about writing these things down!) check the label here too! The only ingredient should be "tomatoes"

To make...

In a large frying pan or sauce pan, heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat....I just drizzle it around the pan once...it could be way less oil than that, but I drizzle it around the perimeter of the pan then move the pan around a bit so it spreads....

Add chopped tomatoes, garlic, a few basil leaves and seasoning (again...the seasoning just do to taste...I give it a few good shakes)

Cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes - during this time Im usually prepping my veggies for the "pasta" part

after 10 minutes take the lid off, you'll notice that a lot of liquid has formed from the tomatoes. stir it up really good....I "press" down and the tomatoes to get them to be more "saucy"

Add the tomato paste, mix it all up and let simmer another 10 minutes.

Annnnnd that's all I do! Im sure there are fancier ways to make sauce...but this is my way and it turns out great every time...it's simple and clean and we all like it!

I do make Meat Sauce too - I posted that recipe awhile back when talking about Healthy Comfort Food so you can find it here!

 I use this sauce with the Zucchini Lasagna and Eggplant Parm recipes below :)

Zucchini Lasagna

This is literally Lasagna...made with Zucchini....that's the only major difference from traditional lasagna. So if you have a lasagna recipe that you LOVE...try it with Zucchini instead! 

To prep the Zucchini I use a kitchen gadget called a mandolin that I found at Big Lots for less than $10. It slices the Zucchini super thin. The Zucchini retains a lot of water so what I do is slice it (as seen below) and sprinkle with salt. Then I let it sit for 10 minutes or so and then I put it in a strainer and press the pile with paper towels. I'm sure there is a better method with these has worked well for me! I've also prepped the Zucchini in the morning, and put the salted bowl into the fridge before work. Then strain it and you'll find the salt has already pulled post of the liquid out.

Next, you want to cook the Zucchini briefly. The best method is on your grill, about 2-3 minutes per side. I've also used an electric griddle though. This helps with the firmness of the Zucchini, the taste and makes the moisture less of an issue too.

After you've done all of that you use your Zucchini strips just like you would pasta.

For a pan of 13x9 pan of lasagne 4-6 Zucchini should be plenty!

I layer mine with sauce (for the pic below I used meat sauce), fat free ricotta cheese and low moisture part skim mozzarella.

The cheese obviously isn't the CLEANEST thing in the world, but by switching from the full fat stuff I used to use to the Fat Free Ricotta and Part Skim Mozz I save a lot of calories and fat & I cant taste a difference.

I cook the assembled "lasagna" in a pre-heated oven at 375 for 20-30 minutes...until the cheese looks slightly browned on the top.

Seriously freaking delicious and I swear you wont miss the pasta one bit!!!!

Eggplant Parmesan

Until I made this, I had never had Eggplant in my life. My husband mentioned that I should try making it though so I gave it a go. All of the recipes I found required breadcrumbs...which I didn't have and didn't want to buy...and frying the eggplant. So I made up my own recipe that I felt a little better about.

I used...
3 large Eggplants
3 Eggs
Half a container of Parmesan Cheese

I cut up the Eggplant into slices...maybe a 1/4 inch thick. Again, moisture becomes an issue, so I put the slices in a bowl and salted them to draw out some of the liquid...it worked well.

I let them sit in salt for about 10 minutes (while I prepped the "dipping station")

I got 2 bowls. In the first I mixed 3 eggs with a little Italian seasoning in the second I dumped about half a container of Parm cheese.

I dipped each Eggplant Slice in the egg, then in the parm and set it on a baking sheet that I had prepped with some olive oil...just enough so they wouldn't stick.

I cooked the Eggplant in a preheated 450 degree oven for 10 minutes, flipped them all and then put them back for another 10 minutes.

The turned out PERFECT.

I lowered the heat on the oven to 375, and assembled the cooked eggplant in a 13x9 dish with my home made sauce, ricotta cheese and skim mozz....just like I do the lasagna. It turned out great

The finished product looked great, it tasted great and we had plenty for left overs.

 

NOW - is the cheese the BEST option....well, no, it isn't the BEST option. 

But sometimes you just want comfort food and making it with veggies, clean ingredients, no added sugar and real food.......not chemicals you're gonna find in so much of your regular comfort food...IS definitely a healthier option.

A serving of each of these dishes is gonna run you  about 350 - 400 calories...which is perfect for your main course for dinner...it has a good amount of protein and lots of veggies. 

I hope you can use these recipes to create your own Healthy Comfort Food for your family! If you have any questions leave them in the comment section below :)

Showcase Challenge Pack

 Have you been interested in trying 21 Day Fix, P90X3 or T25 but don't know WHICH program is right for you?

Beachbody has just come out with this brand new Showcase Challenge Pack...and it's a pretty crazy deal!! 

It includes...

• Three 30-minute or less programs: 21 Day Fix^®, FOCUS T25^® and P90X3^®
• Shakeology! Delivered on Home Direct
• 30-Day FREE trial membership to Team Beachbody Club
• Business Starter Kit
• Popular Coach tools including a Shakeology^® Taste Sampler, Shakeology Tote Bags (5-pack), Shakeology Welcome Guides (10-pack) and Team Beachbody Product Catalogs (5-pack)

When you purchase this program you are enrolling as a Coach. They are giving you everything you need to start a successful business in one pretty little package. If you want more information about Coaching I did a detailed post about the opportunity here: 

Do you have zero interest in Coaching? Coaches get a 25% discount, so many people enroll as a "Discount Coach" for just that...the discount. Or...you can always cancel. (although once you use this stuff you wont wanna!)

This is a great opportunity to get in the best shape of your life and get healthier than ever before (thank you Shakeology!) 

Interested? Have questions? Email me for more info at coachmegreed@gmail.com 

or leave a comment below and Ill be happy to get in touch with you.

PiYo!

PiYo!!!! 

 

Here's what I know...

Have you been hearing about this new workout program that Chalene Johnson was just released?! I'm in the midst of doing PiYo and I am really enjoying it. I have always enjoyed extreme workouts - but I see the best results from the yoga and Pilates routines that go along with those workouts...(Hello X3 yoga and isometrics!) so I am really really excited about PiYo!!!!

Who will benefit from PiYo?

 EVERYONE!  It is a high intensity low impact workout that can be modified to meet everyone's needs.  It is meant to improve flexibility, torch calories and get you in the best shape of your life!
 
There is no jumping in this workout so it is great for someone who needs a low impact option.  It will overall give you a toned, sleek, and complete body transformation.  PiYo is inspired by Pilates and Yoga and was developed by Chalene Johnson who is also the creator of two of Beachbody's most popular programs Turbofire and Chalean Extreme.  There are no weights required for this workout. 

 

What PiYo Workouts are included with the program?
 

 

•  Align (46 mins): The Fundamentals (46 mins)
• Upper Body (35 mins): this focused workout will strengthen and stretch your entire body, while building on the movement patterns you have learned in Align.
• Define: Lower Body (25 mins) will shape and tone everything from your glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves gently, yet effectively to help you get sleek and lean legs.
• Sweat (35 mins) is a traditional PiYo Workout that is fast paced with body weight strength training and ab work!
• Core (30 mins) an ab-centric workout that targets every angle of the abdominals and back. I’ve read this will be a calorie-torcher too!
• Drench (45 mins) is a total body workout to get you sweaty, burning calories, and going to have your metabolism on fire!
• Strength Intervals (25 mins) designed to tone the whole body and burn tons of calories with no weights required!
• Sculpt (30 mins) no weights are required for this intense, full-body workout either!
• You’ll receive 9 workouts total including a Bonus DVD when you order through a coach...like me! ;)

 The PiYo kit also includes a really detailed and simple nutrition guide and calendar that tell you WHAT to do and WHEN to do it in terms of your fitness AND nutrition to get the very best results from this program. 

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, message me on Facebook or 

email me at coachmegreed@gmail.com!

Zoodles!

Zoodles, with ricotta "sauce" and a whole grain Pita with Ricotta and turkey

I've been cheating on spaghetti squash....

I <3 ZOODLES!!!!  I'm obsessed. Don't get me wrong I still enjoy spaghetti squash...I will still HAVE it from time to time...but nothing can beat the value & convenience of Zoodles.

What are Zoodles you say? Basically just a fun little name for "Zucchini Noodles". I didn't think anything could be easier than spaghetti squash....I was wrong! (It doesn't happen often....) Basically all I do is take a Zucchini...and run it over a Mandolin. I found my Mandolin at Big Lots for less than $10 bucks....money well spent...Ill tell you another time how much easier Sweet Potato fries are now ;)

Once you have you "Zoodles" you saute in Olive Oil...I throw a little garlic in too...for a few minutes, until all of the liquid has evaporated. The whole process, start to finish, takes about 10 minutes....

I've found so many fun ways to serve it too....

Zoodles with scallions, red peppers, tablespoon ricotta and mozzarella cheese

Super easy...Shred...sautee (in this I added orange peppers) then top with cheeses or sauce....or eat alone!

This was lunch today...took me 10 minutes before work to throw it together and it counts for                           2 greens, 1 blue, 1 red in 21 day fix world!

Seriously these things are yummy!!! Also...I was never a big ricotta eater before...but when I saw that it counts as a red for the 21 day fix I decided to try it in some different ways...and it is SO good heated up with Zoodles and a Blue container of Mozzarella Cheese...

Sorry Spaghetti Squash...but it's not me...it's you. Zoodles fit my need for fast, easy, healthy and delicious more efficiently! Thanks for the good times...xoxox

21 day fix/P90X3 hybrid...Day 1

I'm following the meal plan for 21 day fix & sticking with my P90X3 workouts. I will post my food diary here!

5/12/14
Breakfast: Sweet Potato & Cocounut hash - 2 yellow, 1 orange, 1 teaspoon
Morning Snack: Almonds (12), Green Peppers, strawberries and peaches (weird morning lol)- 1 Blue, 1 Green. 1 purple
Lunch: Kale, Hard boiled Egg & Chicken Breast - 1 green, 2 red
Afternoon Snack: Orange 1 purple
Dinner: Vanilla Shakeology mixed with peanut butter, ice and water - 1 red, 1 teaspoon
     +   Baked Chicken & Asparagus - 1 red, 1 green

21 Day Fix - Meal Planning 101

I am starting the meal plan portion of 21 Day Fix. I eat fairly healthy as it is, but I KNOW I need to get my portions under control. Plus, I have a group of ladies starting 21 day fix and even though Im still knee deep in personally doing P90X3 I think it's important to know what they're going through!

So last night I prepped for the week. It's a little overwhelming at first, to wrap your head around the colors and figure out how many you need to and how you're going to do it....but honestly, it's overwhelming in it's simplicity!!! We so often tend to over think things...but this really is just so simple. Look at the list. Figure out what you're going to eat. Make sure you hit your targets. Done and Done.

When I got my prep done this is what it looked like:

Chicken, Hard boiled Eggs and Kale for lunch

green pepper for snacks and sweet potatoes with coconut for breakfast

Hard Boiled eggs, Fresh fruit and almonds for snacks :)

It was a chore...but it's really important to prepare! I will post my daily food diary on here for those of you doing the fix and needing ideas!

Shakeology 💚💚💚

I freaking love Shakeology. Love Love Love it. 

Since I've started using Shakeology I've noticed that I'm less bloated and I have more energy...plus my skin looks AMAZING...can't get over how bright my face looks with NO Makeup on...I didn't expect that! My fingernails are shiny too...I don't know how else to describe it...my finger nails look shiny when they're naked....random!


How crazy is this???? It makes me laugh now, but this is is my daily regimen before....and it doesn't even show everything!

There's a multi-vitamin, several superfood powers, whey protein powder, chia seeds, green superfood powder, kale, frozen fruit, fresh fruit....

This is my regimen now. It's all there. And then some!

 

I hear people talk about how expensive Shakeology is....but no joke, I am saving money now! 

 Need more info?? Watch this! Tony Horton "Checks Out" Shakeology! Love it!!! http://bit.ly/1gGd5Eu

I'll be posting my favorite Shakeology concoctions here...so make sure to subscribe for the newest updates. Want more information about this super food, all natural, vitamin loaded shake of amazingness? Comment below with your emails & Ill be in touch...or email me at coachmegreed@gmail.com.

 Cheers!

T25...P90X3...21 Day Fix...oh my!

I have been getting a lot of questions about what makes one Beachbody program different from another. It's understandably confusing to someone who is looking to get in shape, and get healthier, but hearing all of these different programs thrown around.

Basically it's all about your goals! 

Different programs have different objectives and will get you different results.

I'm going to break down the 3 programs I've been getting the most questions about. I think these are the most popular at the moment because they are all 30 minutes or less. Study after study shows that the most dramatic results happen in the first 30 minutes of a workout. You can get REAL results in 30 minutes a day just as effectively as you can in a longer workout. This is perfect if you find it hard to make the time to workout. I know that's the case for me....it's much more doable to get it done when I only have to commit a half hour...in my own home.

So T25 is the same guy who made Insanity. Insanity is know as the most intense workout program ever put on DVD. The biggest reason people gave for having a hard time sticking with Insanity was the length of the workout. I struggled with that when I did Insanity...the workouts were 30-60 minutes long, which doesn't SOUND much longer than 25 minutes, but it was hard for me to stick with it...I did, and I got great results, but I totally understand why they needed to give a shorter alternative!

T25 gives you an hours worth of results in 25 minutes a day. This program is High-intensity, nonstop 25-minute workouts that give you everything you need, nothing you don't. 25 minutes. 5 days a week.The beauty of it is that it's condensed and effective. It wont be easy though. THAT's the catch. You will feel like you are killing yourself...but its 25 minutes a day...it's definitely doable for anyone at any fitness level who is ready to commit and get big results.

21 Day Fix is Beachbody's newest program. The premise is that simple fitness combined with simple eating helps you see results fast. The program features an Easy-to-follow portion control based nutrition guide. It's all color coded, and it even has containers which literally take the guess work out of what to eat and how much to eat. It also has 30-minute workouts which are challenging and effective, but not super extreme. I like this program for anyone looking to make a lifestyle change. If you know you need to clean up your diet and don't know where to start...this is perfect for you. Also the shorter commitment time of the schedule...21 days...is great because the finish line is clearly in site. 

The nutrition component is definitely a very attractive part of this program. It's very structured and will teach you a lot about what your body needs. A lot of people who are serial dieters, aren't getting enough calories, which wrecks their metabolism. Some people aren't getting enough of the right kind of calories. My sister is doing this program now and realized she wasn't eating nearly enough protein for example. I wrote a post about this program a little while back, it explains how this program works in a little more detail: http://bit.ly/1rkQjab

P90X3 is a 90-day extreme fitness program designed to get you ripped in 30 minutes a day. Each one of these accelerated 30-minute workouts has been uniquely developed to produce the greatest physical change in your body, in the most efficient way. Tony Horton's breakthrough Muscle Acceleration system combines a highly structured, plateau-busting schedule with an unprecedented variety of moves that keep every muscle challenged every day for 30 minutes of full-throttle intensity.

 

This program is what I recommend for someone who doesn't have a ton of weight to lose, but wants to build muscle and tone. I'm doing this program right now and I LOVE it. I have seen definition so quickly.  I don't have much weight to lose, I'd like to lose like 5 more pounds. However, I had basically no muscle, or definition, and of course I want the fat from my stomach gone! I will post my results when I complete the program, but so far I really enjoy the workouts.

It comes with 4 "Tracks" which again are based on your goals. "Classic" is similar to what you could expect with the traditional P90X. "Lean" will still build muscle, but the will keep you lean without significant muscle growth. "Mass" is for people who are looking to build major muscle...a lot of men like this track. "Doubles" is a more intense schedule with 2 workouts a day. This would be ideal for someone looking for extreme results, that doesn't mind the 2 a day schedule....which is still only an hour. 

Each track has 3 "Blocks" so your schedule changes ever 30 days. I like this because it keeps things interesting and helps you to avoid a plateau.

 

So....LONG STORY SHORT.... ;)

T25 - intense workouts, with intense results if you are ready to commit

21 Day Fix - simple nutrition and fitness, great for a lifestyle change

P90X3 - extremely effective workouts, which will build muscle and tone your entire body

Don't you worry your pretty little mind...

I have been realizing this is true more and more lately. It's so easy to fall into the trap of wondering what other people think. SO easy.

This is something I've always struggled with. I hate it when people are mad at me. I hate it when people don't like me. It really bothers me. I try to be a good friend, I'm extremely loyal, when I don't feel that I am getting that in return, it hurts my feelings and I dwell on it. It's a problem!

Over the last year or so, I've had to consciously distance myself from some of my "closest friends" who constantly made me feel bad about myself, minimized my accomplishments and threw me under the bus when it was convenient. Did some of the blame lie on me - no doubt. I haven't always made the best choices. I've struggled with some substance issues over the years (as have they). I definitely place work and my family as a priority over my friends....although while that may seem wrong to some people, it is 100% right for me. It's been hard though. It's hard to make the decision to no longer value the opinions of others and instead only value the opinions of yourself and those closest to you, in my case my husband and my kids.

In retrospect, this change in how I "think" directly aligns with the change in how I "live" too. 

I will never claim to live a 100% healthy lifestyle. I work hard and I play hard. I take care of my body and I abuse it. I am FAR FAR FAR from perfect. The difference over the last year, lies more in consciously trying every day to do better than I did before. To eat healthier, workout, take control of my own health. It's changed everything for me. I'm proud of myself. I'm happier. My marriage is stronger. I'm a better mom. I KNOW all of that and therefore it truly doesn't matter anymore what anyone else thinks.

Since signing on as a Beachbody coach though...I've felt some of these feelings creep back in. I know I have people out there doubting me. People rolling their eyes, and thinking I have no business trying to help other people live a healthy life. Every time I go to post on social media about Beachbody, I get a knot in my stomach, because I KNOW there are people talking about it, and not in a good way. All of the sudden I'm worrying more than I have in months about what people think... 

I got on instagram the other day, and this was posted, and commented on, by people I thought would have been supportive of this endeavor...

 

Um, OUCH. One of the comments specifically mentioned Beachbody Coaches who have no qualifications to be helping people. 

Can you say "Missing the point?"

Being a Beachbody Coach means you are a brand ambassador basically for some of the best fitness and nutrition products on the market. I would NEVER be dolling out nutritional advice...other than common sense stuff. Each program comes with a Nutrition Guide so therefore that's not even something that would NEED to be done. 

The people I am helping are people like me. They aren't going to the gym. Not because they are lazy. Not because they dont have the motivation. Not because they dont want to be healthy. 

They may very well be scared of what people think though. I know that is part of what has kept me out of the gym most of my life. I don't know what to do when I go in there. I feel stupid. I get self conscious. I like the Beachbody programs because they tell me exactly what to do, and I can do it alone. It's time I'm giving myself. A gift. And it works.

Beachbody Coaches aren't taking anything away from professional fitness instructors. Being a Beachbody Coach is more like being a life coach. A Cheerleader. You are providing motivation and inspiration to people who wouldn't seek it otherwise. It's about helping people help themselves. It's amazing and empowering!

The people that you are helping also may not have time. Another quote I see, and have seen captioned with references to people who don't go to the gym is...

 

Well no shit. 

You know what's important to me? My family! My health is also important. THAT is what makes Beachbody programs so perfect. I can find the time. 30 minutes, before my kids get up, because it's important. If they need me I'm right there. It's not an excuse that I don't take and hour or more to leave the house and drive to the gym. The fact that I don't go to the gym, doesn't take away, in any way, shape or form the importance or effectiveness of my health and fitness.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those parents who NEVER leaves her kids. I choose carefully though. I'm a working mom. If I am going to work out every day, there is no way to do it other than at home without spending more time away from my kids than I already am. So I find a way. 

Most of my customers, are moms, like me. Busy moms, with small kids, who desperately want to live a healthier lifestyle and don't know where to start. 

Tell me again how the fact that you are a certified trainer in body building competitions is even the same thing I'm trying to do? All I'm trying to do is motivate and help, mainly people who just don't know where to start. 

I kind of went off on a tangent there. But when I saw that the other day, my heart sank. I felt embarrassed and guilty, and for a little while, I doubted myself and considered quitting! If I let the thoughts of some people make me give up...what about the people who are relying on me to help them? They aren't going to step foot in a gym. They aren't going to lose weight in a healthy way. They're going to turn to other shakes and "supplements" on the market that are terribly processed and full of chemicals. They'll lose weight and they'll feel terrible. They won't be healthy. I know about something that can help them, and help them reach their optimal...that's worth sharing!

The more I thought about it - I know, no matter what anyone THINKS, it's about what I KNOW. I'm helping people. It's not a joke. I'm not claiming to be an expert or providing information that is false or irresponsible. I'm helping people take the first step to change their lives. It's not about what other people think, it's about what those people need. 

Phew. Rant over. 

Fellow Beachbody Coaches? Have you encountered "haters" when it comes to your business before? How did you get handle it, or get past it?

Are you just a regular person looking for help and not sure where to start? I'd love to help you. Leave me a comment with your email and Ill get in touch, or you can email me at coachmegreed@gmail.com.

Lead by example

Let that sink in a minute. 

No wonder there is an obesity epidemic in this country!

In our house we are trying to raise our kids to be healthy eaters & to make good choices. The most important thing is to lead by example. 

I usually do my workout before my girls get up but whenever it works out that they're up, they love to do it with me. I think it's really important to let the kids see how hard I work, but that it's fun. They love it. 

It's official...

It's official! I am officially a Team Beachbody Coach!

 

So, what does this mean?

• If you're like me, and really can't find the time to go to the gym or fitness classes...or just don't feel comfortable going that route...I can help you choose a fitness program, that you can do at home, to reach your goals. You have to be serious though, and you have to commit!!!! 
• I will be running "Challenge Groups" each Month, to keep you accountable and help you reach your goals...no goal is to big or to small, I want to HELP you!
• I can help you find the weak links in your diet. Maybe you already know what they are, but don't know where to start when it come to finding the right path to a healthy lifestyle. That's OK...I have a ton of resources and information and I want to share them with you!

It means a lot more than this...but most simply, it means I can help. It means I have even more resources than I did before, to help you realize your goals to be a healthier you. 

I'm excited! Shoot me and email if you want to be excited too! CoachMegReed@gmail.com

Healthy comfort food???

I love food. Like I said before I am a comfort food addict! So in trying to eat non processed whole foods, I've found the most success in adjusting things I love to make them work for me. It's amazing how easy cooking is when you are just using real food!

This week has been particularly stressful...lots of work stuff going on. This makes me want to stuff my face ALL THE TIME.

My solution..."Paleofied" Comfort Food!

Monday night I roasted spaghetti squash & garlic. It's really easy. 

• Cut the spaghetti squash in half...that's the hardest part of the entire thing...literally.
• Scoop out the "guts"
• Drizzle with Olive Oil & garlic salt (or whatever you want to use to season it)
• Then I placed 2 heads of garlic with the outer layer removed and the root part (I'm sure there's a more technical name...) chopped off on a cookie sheet. 
• Place one half of squash over each head of garlic
• Roast at 375 for 35-45 minutes...

Then I made some meat sauce to go with it....

• Brown 1 pound of ground beef, while the meat is browning chop up the following and add as you go....
• 6 chopped tomatoes...I used a tomatoes on the vine Family Pack from Wegmans
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 chopped up head of garlic or a spoonful of minced garlic...whatever you have
• 2 basil leaves 
• 1 chopped pepper...I used a yellow pepper

*Cover & Simmer this mixture for about 20 minutes....I didn't time it exactly, I just simmered it while I cleaned up my kitchen and prepped my squash and garlic

• Next I added 1 small can of tomato paste...check your ingredients! Make sure the only ingredient listed is "Tomatoes" and that they haven't snuck in anything extra.
• Stir it all together, cover, reduce head to low

*I simmered it like this for about 40 minutes....again I didn't time it exactly, I did it while I squeezed in my p90x3 workout...which is 30 minutes long! I paused it a few times to run up and stir. I added a little water here and there when the bottom of the pan started to brown. 

At one point when I paused my workout to check the sauce, I took out the squash. When I was done with my workout, it had cooled enough to scoop out the "Spaghetti" strings. I set the garlic aside for the Paleo Pesto I made (more on that in a sec!) and voila... "Spaghetti & meat sauce" made almost entirely of vegetables! Delicious and everyone loved it...even my picky kids!

(please excuse the picture...it might not LOOK amazing...but it was!)

After dinner, I cleaned up the kitchen and threw stuff in the blender for "Paleo Pesto" this is a recipe I made up, and I use it for lots of things. It taste WAY to good to be healthy...it's rich, creamy, savory...basically everything I want in a comfort food! 

It is also super easy to make....

• Squeeze the roasted garlic into a blender then added the following...
• fresh basil (I used a Wegman's Basil Clam Shell) 
• nuts...most recipes call for pine nuts, I used shelled pistachios...approximately 3/4 cup.
• kale...only because I like to add kale to just about everything I can sneak it into. I threw in a handful.
• Olive Oil...probably about a 1/4 cup...I adjust as needed until it gets to be the consistency I want. 
• Blend it on various settings until it gets creamy...about 5 minutes.

I store it in a cute little mason jar and use it for all kinds of things I love it as a veggie dip, salad topper or on leftover spaghetti squash like I had for lunch today! 1 jar has plenty to last a few days or longer depending on what you use it for.

You may have noticed, my recipes are REAL loosey goosey. I almost always just make it up as I go along, taste it as I go and add things as I need to. Like I said before, when you are using real food and herbs it makes cooking easier in my opinion...and fun! 

I like knowing exactly what is in my food, it tastes delicious and it hits the spot when I feel like I need to indulge...even though neither of these recipes would technically be indulging!