Colorful Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti Squash is seriously one of God's best inventions. It is so easy and fun to make, and it's a pretty healthy low-calorie choice. In this recipe, I added some spices, vegetables, and beans for additional flavor and nutrition.

Pumpkin Pie

What is Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie? I use the ingredients from the back of the Libby's pumpkin can, but I have a few secrets to baking that make it just a little better :) First secret is the pie crust, which I made yesterday.... After it has chilled thoroughly, take it out and form it into a ball. Flour your counter lightly, and roll the dough in the flour so it is coated on all sides. The secret is to not put too much flour, because it will make the dough dry. But at the same time, too little flour and the dough will stick to your mat and break when you pull it off. 

The Perfect Pie Crust

Disclaimer: this post isn't going to be my healthiest post ever....but pie only comes around about twice a year so it's not going to hurt anyone (it's the dose that makes the poison). (:

No-Bake PB Bites

Today I made some protein bites. These are incredibly easy and are great for breakfast, or snacks. The oatmeal is a whole grain that adds fiber, and the peanut butter adds some protein. Both protein and fiber help keep you full longer, making this one of my favorite go-to recipes. 

Fantastic Fiber

 

I just finished my gastrointestinal rotation, so naturally fiber is on my mind. The average American gets only half of the recommended amount of fiber. This can cause a myriad of problems from high cholesterol to constipation to cancer.

DIY Instant Oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfasts. It's filling and healthy - you get some whole grains in and fiber. However, I don't usually have much time in the mornings; and by the time I get out all the ingredients and cook it for 2 minutes, I'm usually running late. Instant oatmeal packets would be nice if they weren't so expensive and didn't have so much sugar and salt in them. So I started making my own instant oatmeal packets. All you need is a few zip lock bags, quick oats, cinnamon (or spice of your choice), and a few toppings like fruit or nuts. (Please excuse the quality of the pictures - I had to use my phone...)

Foodies Unite!

I've always been a big fan of food. Whether it's my mom's homecooked meal or some produce fresh from the garden; no food beats homemade, homegrown, real, pure food. Convenience foods can have a place in our diets - albeit a very small place ;). The thing I love most about cooking is that you can craft your food to pure levels of perfection. When you are the one putting it together, you don't have to worry about preservatives and unknown chemicals or insects and dirt. You know what is in it, because you put it in it. You don't have to wait for research to be conducted to know if it is safe to consume, because it's real food; and people have been eating that for thousands of years.