New Recipe Tuesday

Hey friends!
How is the week treating you so far? Good I hope!
I'm struggling to concentrate writing this post.  My hometown boys-Astros- are playing the Yankees tonight!!! We are up 1-0!  I can say the entire city of Houston is praying for win!!! haha

To kick off Fall- I have A NEW RECIPE!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

First- there are 2 methods in which to make this soup.  You can use a high speed blender-like a Vitamix or Blendtec OR an immersion blender.  This is an immersion blender, if you're unfamiliar.

Soup:

3-4lb Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1" cubes

1 Sweet Onion(yellow), peeled and quartered

2 Carrots, peeled and chopped

3-4 Garlic cloves, peeled

2 tbsp Olive Oil

3 c Low Sodium Chicken Broth

Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.  In a single layer, place squash, onions, carrot and garlic on baking sheet.  Pour oil on veggies, then generously cover with salt and pepper.  Then toss to coat evenly.

Bake for 30 minutes or until squash is tender.

*If using a high speed blender- put all ingredients into blender along with chicken broth.  Blend until desired consistency. If you find the soup is still too thick, add in more chicken broth or unsweetened almond milk.  Serve with fresh black pepper or a dollop of greek yogurt.

*If using an immersion blender, put all ingredients into a stock pot.  Cook the squash until tender.  Then turn off the heat and carefully use the blender to blend the soup.  Blend until desired consistency.  Serve with black pepper or a dollop of nonfat greek yogurt.

Doesn't that look amazing??? 

I've been quite busy in the kitchen lately!  Since I still had a TON of tomatoes that I knew I couldn't eat alone, I made salsa!

Not picture- the 2 LARGE jalapeños I put in the salsa. I like the heat!! haha

Are there any "fall" like recipes you want me to "clean up"?? Post in the comments! I LOVE a challenge!

Week in Rewind

Hello friends!
I apologize for my absence.  Though I wonder if anyone missed me! haha  Even if you didn't, I will share how this week went down . . . wait, this week flew by so fast I don't even remember what I did on Monday.  Getting old isn't fun!

Meal Prep(lunch) went like this- Baked Mahi fillets and roasted squash.  I attempted to make my own gluten free bread crumbs with some GF bread that was past it's prime.  I didn't toast the bread long enough to achieve the crunchiness of bread crumbs.  However the bread crumbs tasted good, so I used them anyway.

I roasted delicata squash and zucchini squash.  Nothing fancy just olive oil, iodized salt, black pepper and lemon pepper.  Delish!

I was gifted these 

I use the term "gifted" because homegrown tomatoes this late in the year- is the holy grail of gifts!

So I turned a few of them into this-

Roasted Tomato Marinara!

It made less marinara sauce than you think. Roughly 4 cups.  I divided it up and froze it.  

This weekend, I intend to make salsa with the remaining tomatoes. (c:

On Tuesday I snagged this from my local supplement store, Nutrition Depot

I have to say, I wasn't impressed.  The artificial sugar taste(sucralose) was strong.  I had my tastebuds geared up for the Almond Vanilla flavor with a pumpkin coating.  It didn't taste like that AT ALL.  Needless to say, I didn't even finish the bar and I gave away the second one I purchased.

However, this prompts me to create a pumpkin protein bar this weekend.  It time permits.

Another disappointing thing happened this week.  I injured my left hamstring.  It was so tight, that it traveled up from the back of knee all the way to my glute and in my groin.  It was PAINFUL friends. I went to my masseuse and she worked on my left leg for 30 minutes straight.  She was in SHOCK at how tight my groin and glute.  She did a deep tissue massage and therefore I have bruises now.  However, the next day, I felt 100 times better!  I was astonished.  I get massages but I have NEVER had such great results in loosening of a muscle.  However, I am going back next week for her to work on it again, as well as the rest of my body!

Who wouldn't want a massage two weeks in a row???

On Friday we FINALLY received "fall" like weather!  It was cool enough for me to wear this BEAUTIFUL shawl my friend gave me- without sweating for the sake of fashion!  haha

Last night my church, hosted an FREE outdoor concert.  It was a PERFECT night for the concert.  The band played a mix of country, classic rock, hip hop and christian songs.  It was great!  We were also able to see the International Space Station fly over our area!!! It was a cool moment!

After the concert, I went home to go to bed early.  Yes, I know, it's Friday night. I should have been out playing.

However I wanted to take advantage of the cool temps Saturday morning for a long run.

Friends- you don't get much better running temps than that!!! I had a strong head-wind on the back half of my run, but I will take the wind ANY DAY over 95 degree weather!

I was SO glad I got up early!  I was able to catch this sunrise.  I am always in awe of the sunrises the Lord graces us with.  

After my run, I was starving!  On Saturdays- we make PANCAKES!

Thank you Madhava for AMAZING sweeteners!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Pancakes!!!! Delish!

Well friends it's time to wrap this up!

Get out and enjoy this PERFECT weather!

Toodles!