Stay at Home Cooking: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

As I write this most of the world is under stay at home orders to avoid spreading the coronavirus. We're only going out for essentials like food or medicine but even then I'm going to try and avoid it if possible. I had a pretty good food supply in the freezer and pantry so I've been cooking up some tasty meals so far... we'll see what happens in a couple of weeks it might be another story. I do have a couple of mysterious packages in the back of the freezer it might come to using those. Well... we could have a contest to guess what it is. LOL.

Last night's quarantine kitchen meal was a layered Spaghetti Squash Lasagna type situation. It was delicious and I'm looking forward to lunch leftovers. I'll try and post a few ideas in case people need some inspiration. You can also check out my Pinterest page.

Shelly's Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

1 Spaghetti Squash, cooked
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon Oregano

3/4 to 1 cup Tomato Sauce (I used storebought Rao's Tomato Basil)

1 cup Ricotta Cheese (I used whole milk)
1 Egg, beaten
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
1 teaspoon Oregano
1 teaspoon Basil
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
a few twists of Black Pepper

1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

Half and deseed the spaghetti squash. OVEN: Place open end down on a Pyrex baking dish, pour 1/4 cup of water in dish. Cover with foil. Bake in a 400-degree oven for about 40 minutes or MICROWAVE: Place open end down on a Pyrex baking dish, pour 1/4 cup of water in dish and microwave for 15 minutes or so. You want a fork to insert easily. Allow to cool slightly. Use two forks to shred the flesh of the cooked squash into "spaghetti." Add salt and pepper to taste, 1/2 teaspoon of oregano. Spread evenly in a deep-dish pie plate or casserole dish.

Spread tomato sauce on top evenly. Mix together remaining ingredients (except Mozzarella) till well combined and spread evenly over the tomato sauce layer. Top with Mozzarella. Place in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes. I broil the top for about 2 minutes more to get little golden brown cheese spots.

Hope you and everyone you love is healthy and stays that way. Chat soon.

Winter Issue of Weight Matters Magazine

One of the perks of Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) Premium Access Membership is receiving hard copies of the Weight Matters Magazine mailed to your home. It's an awesome publication always jam-packed with great articles about health, weight, nutrition, emotional wellness, stories about real people and OAC community members making a difference. I love it when I open the mailbox and the latest issue has arrived. I highly recommend upgrading to receive the magazine as well as some other great benefits, like early registration for OAC's annual convention (BTW that's open now.)

If you already receive the magazine, turn to page 32 in the Winter issue. I had the privilege of writing the issue's Kids Korner article. For those of you that don't know, Early Childhood Education is my first love and I enjoyed tapping into that part of my world by sharing some fun family activities to combat winter boredom. If you have kiddos in your life, I hope you and your family enjoy the ideas and recipes presented... and if you do... I'd love love love to hear about it!

Oh, and please do me a favor, after you are finished reading your magazine. Drop it off somewhere in your neighborhood (coffee shop, hair salon, doctor's office, some waiting room somewhere in America, etc.) so someone else can benefit from the great information and learn about the OAC. It's one of my favorite, super easy ways to take #OACAction to help further the mission of the OAC.

Learn more.

Homemade Hummus Recipe (Plus Healthy Tips & Variations)

Once you make hummus at home you'll never go back to store-bought. Making hummus is super easy and tastes better than anything store-bought plus you know exactly what's in it, no mysterious, long, chemical-sounding ingredients. Below is my basic healthier hummus recipe and a ton of ways you can change that basic recipe up. Plus low carb dippers ideas and a few suggestions for any leftover hummus you might have. Leftover hummus! What's that? Don't count on it... maybe just make some extra.

Basic Healthier Hummus 

1 (15 oz. can) Chickpeas (aka Cece, Garbanzo Beans), rinsed and drained
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil (you can omit and use more water)
2 Tablespoons Tahini  (Sesame Paste)
juice of 1/2 a Large Lemon
1/4 cup Water
2 cloves of Garlic, peeled
Salt to taste

Blend all ingredients in a mini food processor to desired smoothness. Scraping down sides with a small spatula to make sure everything gets processed. This recipe serves 3-4 people a nice sized dollop. You can double the batch. Lasts several days in the fridge.

Cook notes: I prefer a little texture to my hummus but for super creamy hummus fans microwave the chickpeas for 3 minutes before blending them. Find Tahini in middle eastern markets, kosher food sections, sometimes near peanut butter in regular markets. I buy mine at Trader Joe's it's near the dressings. You can't leave the Tahini out it's what makes hummus, hummus.

Change it up:
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: Omit Olive Oil and add 1-2 Roasted Red Peppers (jarred)
Black Olive Hummus: Add 6 pitted, Kalamata Olives or a Tablespoon of Olive Tapenade
Roasted Garlic Hummus: Roast the Garlic (instructions) first and add to taste
Pesto Hummus: Omit Olive Oil and add 1 Tablespoon Storebought Pesto Sauce
Cilantro & Cumin Hummus: Add a Tablespoon of fresh Cilantro and a dash of Cumin
Eggplant Hummus: Omit Olive Oil and 1/4 cup of Roasted Eggplant Cubes
Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus: Omit Olive Oil and add 1 Tablespoon Storebought Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce
White Bean Hummus: Swap rinsed and drained Cannelini Beans for Chickpeas
Black Bean Hummus: Swap rinsed and drained Black Beans for Chickpeas

Toppings:
Toasted Crushed Nuts (Pine Nuts or Pistachios are great)
Everything Bagel Spice
Zaatar
Crushed Whisps or Parm Crisps
Crumbled Feta Cheese
Olive Tapenade

Dippers:
Carrots
Celery
Bell peppers
Cucumber
Cherry Tomatoes
Grilled Chicken or Beef Skewers
Cold Cut Roll-ups or Skewers
Grilled Shrimp
Whisps or Parm Crisps

Ways to use leftover hummus... mix it in deviled eggs, jazz up roasted cauliflower, make this award-winning Greek Hummus Rounds appetizer or bump up the protein and make a little leftover go a long way by mixing equal parts of hummus and Greek yogurt together.

Cauliflower Cheese Egg Bites (Trader Joe's Copy Cat Egg Frittata Recipe)

Trader Joe's plays great music... at least my store does. It's usually 80's or 90's songs that I haven't heard in forever but still somehow remember every word to. That's a life mystery right there... why is it I can recall every lyric to a 30-year-old song playing in the store but have trouble remembering things I'm supposed to buy without a shopping list?! True confession: I have actually taken another turn around the store even though I've done my shopping in order to finish a particularly great song all while trying to restrain myself (sometimes unsuccessfully) from breaking out in song.

The other day as I was holding back bursting into a rousing rendition of a Duran Duran hit. I spotted this product in the frozen section: Trader Joe's Egg Frittata with Swiss Cheese and Cauliflower. I scanned the protein-packed ingredient list and ooooh cool it looked like something that would work on my plan. I tossed a box in my cart. They were $2.99 for a pack of 2 teacup saucer-sized frittatas. 12 grams of protein and just 5 grams of carbs per frittata. They were super convenient (you just heat in the microwave from frozen) and tasty. Perfect breakfast on-the-go or add a veggie or salad for lunch or dinner.

As I was eating them I thought I really need to try and recreate these...  they are super similar to the Egg Bites I make. I scribbled down the basic ingredient list before I tossed the box out... eggs, onions, cauliflower, swiss cheese, chives and a week later I experimented and came up with this copy cat, knock-off version. They were pretty darn close, super yummy and will be on permanent rotation at my house.

Shelly's Cauliflower Cheese Egg Bites

1 (10 oz.) Frozen Package Riced Cauliflower (I used Birds Eye Steamfresh Cauliflower with Italian Cheese added*)
1 Yellow Onion, diced
5 Eggs, beaten
1/3 cup Shredded Gruyere Cheese (Swiss will work too)
3 Green Onions, diced (I didn't have chives)
1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper

Cook Riced Cauliflower per bag instructions. Empty into a mesh strainer. Set aside to allow to drain and cool. I used Italian Cheese seasoned riced cauliflower *If you use plain I'd add a Tablespoon or 2 of grated Parmesan Cheese. Saute yellow onion till golden. Set aside to cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix all ingredients together. Spoon into a lightly greased (Pam non-stick spray works great for this) mini muffin tin.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Let them cool a few moments they pull away and pop right out. Makes 24. Keep in fridge for several days, they reheat great in the microwave or toaster oven... or freeze.

Whether you try the storebought version or my copy cat recipe I hope you enjoy them. Let me know what you think.