Spaghetti Squash Bake/Casserole

I intend to post every weekend, but life gets in the way sadly.

So, spaghetti squash is pretty much the best thing ever.

Low carb, so versatile, and I prefer it to regular spaghetti.

If you looked in my pantry, you would see me hoarding spaghetti squash!

(I may have a problem...)

This spaghetti squash casserole recipe (though I prefer to call it a bake)

is great to take to lunch throughout the week or if you have a few people to feed at dinnertime.

Trader Joe's had an Autumn Harvest pasta sauce that was magical!

But it is seasonal, and I caught it on the tail end,

so I did not hoard it after trying it and falling in love.

Whole Foods as recently as a week ago had a Pumpkin pasta sauce

that also was lovely in this bake.

Just use your favorite pasta sauce. :)

I enjoy adding some shredded parmesan to the top of this.

Who doesn't like melted cheese?!

So easy, so yummy.

Bake and you are set for the week for lunch!

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 3.5

Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes

Happy New Year! Hope yours is off to a wonderful start!

In between the holidays, an interview, and finally going on our honeymoon,

posting fell by the way side sadly.

So many recipes to update you all on!

A few days ago, I made this buffalo chicken sloppy joe recipe.

After an hour drive home from a crappy job,

who wants to spend a lot of time cooking?

We did not try the Blue Cheese Ranch sauce,

as E hates both blue cheese and ranch.

If you make it, please let me know how it turns out!

Good old Trader Joe's to the rescue for the ingredients!

Who wants to chop up celery, onions, AND carrots...

when you can just purchase Mirepoix!

I must admit, the TJ's portion of Mirepoix is probably half what is needed for the recipe.

We were out of apple cider vinegar,

so red wine vinegar was substituted (not recommended!).

These sloppy joes have the potential to be amazingly delicious!

Sadly, either the red wine vinegar was a poor choice,

or the whole wheat buns were old,

because something was slightly off about the flavors.

I thought they might also taste good on nachos or as a lettuce wrap!

I look forward to trying the buffalo sloppy joe recipe again,

this time with the correct ingredients!

Difficulty Level: 1.5

Yum Factor: 3.5

Pumpkin Chili

Mandatory overtime is kinda the worst.

Feels like I haven't been able to enjoy life for a few months...do the things I love.

(Like this!)

My job is in an industrial area, so places to eat are few and far between.

Plus, it is way more cost effective to make and take your lunch.

Pumpkin season is NOT over!

I LOVE PUMPKIN!

I would eat it all year long if possible!

So, it is only fitting for lunch I make a pumpkin chili.

Nom Nom Nom.

Easy, delicious, pretty low carb.

E prefers it without the kale, I don't care either way.

Think it actually tastes better sans sour cream.

Also used diced and fire roasted tomatoes with green chilis.

(Trader Joe's version of Ro-tel)

Also changed the protein to turkey.

Oh and also changed the beans to great northern beans.

In short, this a a versatile recipe that changes it up from the typical chili recipes.

A fall staple!

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 4

Slow Cooker Berry Coobler

Been trying so many new recipes lately, might as well share two recipes in one night!

We have been hosting poker nights on a monthly to bi-monthly basis, much to my chagrin.

It's not that I don't like having people over,

but I am in mandatory overtime at work, so there is no time to clean and get ready.

(Plus I'd rather have people over less often. #introvert)

The tiramisu was such a hit a few weeks ago,

but I wanted to take advantage of the seasonal berries.

Mmmm slow cooker berry cobbler.

Think the recipe is a bit confused.

It calls for 2 cups blueberries, 2 cups raspberries.

Since I hate blueberries, I have planned on strawberries and raspberries.

After measuring out the prescribed 2 cups of raspberries,

I couldn't imagine adding another 2 cups of any berry,

it already seemed excessive,

so I refrained from adding the strawberries.

The recipe says to use fresh or frozen.

The berries were fresh on Monday, I froze them until Friday.

It came out fine, but I am curious to try fresh next time.

I made the dough exactly as it is in the recipe, 

and it barely covered the bottom of the crock pot.

The slow cooker berry cobbler was delicious,

but it needs some improvment.

Recommendation: replace the 2 cups blueberries, 2 cups raspberries with

2 cups total berries of you choice.

Also, double the ingredients for the dough.

Difficulty Level: 2

Yum Factor: 4

Crack Slaw

Crack Slaw. Not the best sounding name,

but it is addicting because of how easy and delicious the recipe is!

This is perfect to whip up to eat for lunch at work throughout the week,

or a quick dinner.

I did not have sesame seeds, only because TJ's no longer carries them. (wtf!)

First time I made the Crack Slaw, I used TJ's broccoli slaw, it was divine.

Second time making the recipe, they were out of broccoli slaw,

so the only choice was shredded cabbage, not as good.

BOTH times making this, I had to add more liquid (soy, soyaki, etc,) after cooking.

Recommendation: Make as directed, but be ready to taste test and add more seasoning and sauce.

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 3

Tomato Basil Artichoke Baked Chicken

Do you enjoy taking food for lunch, but get sick of eating the same old thing?

Yeah, me too.

In my new job, we have overgrown the parking lot, it's pretty insane.

So leaving for lunch is not ideal...let alone friend to the wallet.

It was time to shake up what I was making for lunch.

Tomato Basil Artichoke Baked Chicken

Those words sound so magical together, don't they? :)

The recipe calls for roma tomatoes, I used sun dried tomatoes.

Forget if I used the dried basil most of us have in the pantry,

or the fresh basil the recipe calls for.'

Doesn't even matter, because this was super easy and delicious!

Plus my lunch friends were very impressed that I made this dish for lunch.

Looking forward to making it again!

Difficulty Level: 1.5

Yum Factor: 4+

Greek Chicken Kebobs

Who wants to actually use their oven in the summer?

Not this girl!

If it can be on the grill, I want it that way all summer long.

So this recipe calls for a tzatziki, which I omitted.

My guy is not down with yogurt-based foods and I didn't want to make it.

Also Trader Joe's makes a decent tzatziki if you feel the need

(and I had it in the refrigerator if I felt said need),

but I don't think it is necessary.

Marinade for the maximum of 2 hours, no less!

I might be compelled to try it even longer, even though the recipe is strongly against it.

Also omitted the coriander, because I had whole not ground.

So yummy!

Such a refreshing twist on the standard kabob flavoring!

Definitely prefer this recipe to the other one I made recently that involved pineapples...

Difficulty Level: 1.5 cutting up veggies and such

Yum Factor: 4+