spaghetti squash 101

If you were to ask me a couple years ago how to cook spaghetti squash, or what it even looked like, I would've had no idea.  I've always been a big fan of squash, so it was about time that I ventured into the world of cooking with spaghetti squash.  The first person I turned to was my brother-in-law because he seemed to be always cooking it, and he quickly taught me how to bring this squash to life.  Now I absolutely LOVE cooking with it!  It's super versatile, provides as a pasta replacement, and fuels your body with its nutritious ingredients!

Spaghetti squash definitely needs some time to cook, so make sure you plan out your meal accordingly.  I try to make this on Sunday either for that night or for a meal I'm planning on that week.

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Carefully (and you may want to enlist the help from your husband like I do) cut your squash in half.

3. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and membranes from inside.

4. Season the cut halves with salt and pepper.

5. Place the squash cut side down in a baking dish and fill the dish with 1/4 c. of water.

6. Bake your spaghetti squash for 1 hour.

7. When done, let your squash sit for at least 15 minutes so it can cool down.  Then, using a fork, scoop out the insides.  The squash will be strands and look like spaghetti!

For dinner tonight I made Skinnytaste's Spaghetti Squash with Meat Ragu using ground turkey.  

Here are some more recipes to use with your spaghetti squash:

Baked Spaghetti Squash and Cheese

Spaghetti Squash Pesto with Tomatoes

Spaghetti Squash with Chicken, Mushrooms, and Spinach 

Spaghetti Squash Fritters with Sriracha Mayonnaise 

{virtual} coffee dateI

via

If we were having coffee this morning...the first thing I would shout is that we are homeowners!!!!

It still feels a bit surreal, and it is probably due to the fact that we've already lived in our home for four years now.  But we bought a home!  The Mr. and I feel like "official" adults.  At the same time, I've been struggling with feeling like we are "less than" because it's a condo, not a house.  But God has been reminding me over and over again what is means to live within our means, to live in a way where we are not house poor, and to be happy with what you have not what you want.  

If we were having coffee this morning...I would tell that you that I'm incredibly grateful for my husband!  He has been working so hard with escrow, taking care of our paperwork, and keeping our stress levels down.  He amazes me all the time, I just love him so! 

If we were having coffee this morning...I would tell you that I am sick of being sick.  This cold of mine is just lingering around still, and I'm exhausted.  I'm pretty sure that I text the Mr. today that I felt like a walking zombie, and then I looked in the mirror at work and realized what my poor students saw today-a zombie.  

I've been giving myself grace, letting myself rest, but I'm ready for my energy to come back-for my body to feel back to normal-and to lace up my shoes and hit the pavement.  

If we were having coffee this morning...I would share that I am forever blessed by our church.  This past Monday they hosted a women's event, and let me tell you, they never disappoint.  Our speaker was just so inspirational and shared insight on 5 things she wished she knew when she was younger.  Let's just say that each of them definitely hit home with me.  

If we were having coffee this morning...I would gush over the first baby gift we got on the mail this week!  

My sweet grandma bought us the baby food maker I registered for along with the sounds/light machine.  Leave it to me to be ecstatic over a baby food maker. But it steams and purees the veggies all in one!!!  I'm also pretty grateful that the Mr. appreciated my enthusiasm.  I just about teared up when we were talking about how our CSA box is going to become so useful when our little man is eating solids.  

If we were having coffee this morning...I would tell you that I feel a bit behind in terms of preparing for labor.  Having a natural birth is something I value, but I know that I am going to definitely have to train for it.  Hypnobirthing?  Doulas?  My head is just spinning with choices, and I feel like I need to just make a decision and start getting to work on this! 

Have a lovely weekend beauties!!! 

today, I am thankful

Originally, this post was going to begin my prayers for our sweet son that is going to bless and change our lives forever this December.  As I sit here typing, I'm surrounded by blankets, tissues, tea, and E-mergency.  My eyes are watering, and that's just from the cold.  When I started thinking about our prayers, the tears immediately started gushing, so a change of direction was needed.  So today, I'm sharing the little things in life that are filling my soul with joy and gratitude:

+Panera Bread chicken noodle soup...I crave this soup every single time I'm sick 

+The sweetest students who have been bringing me tissues in the middle of my lessons.  This has never happened before, and I don't know how I got so lucky to be blessed by students who are so loving and giving.  They sure are taking care of me! 

+The coziest of blankets we picked up at Costco for only $15 this past weekend! 

+Parenthood and Grey's Anatomy, oh and New Girl and Revenge...TV is back!  But watching Parenthood and Grey's Anatomy back to back this past Sunday was a bad idea, way too many tissues were needed! 

+Trader Joe's harvest tea..I love you!  

+I came home Monday night from a long work day and an amazing women's event to the prettiest bouquet sitting on my kitchen counter.  I love this man who catches me off gaurd with "just because" flowers.  

+Last night at 7pm it was dark outside, there was a chill in the air, and I breathed in the first real feeling of fall.  

+We were talking about ways we are unique in my class a couple weeks ago and one student wrote "I'm God's little princess".  Oh, how I pray that our son will forever know he is God's little prince, that he is loved more than he can imagine, and is as bold as my sweet student. 

+Saturday night we went to my in-laws to celebrate my mother in laws birthday.  The Mr. and I decided to give the gift of dinner, so we cooked dinner for the entire family.  I love knowing my gifts, and cooking for others is definitely one of them.  But the sweetest moment was when my 3-year old niece said the prayer for dinner.  There are no words to describe hearing her tiny voice blessing our family.