MAKE THE SPAGHETTI SQUASH!

Things are getting hard.  And they’re getting easier.  Yesterday I found myself looking at the plates of the two people dining with me, both which had bread on them.  Now when I first began this journey only 10 short days ago, that would have driven me crazy!  I would have been able to taste the bread, feel the texture between my teeth, and feel a pang of sadness that I wasn’t able to truly experience it.  But yesterday, I looked at the sandwich and felt nothing.  I looked at the english muffin and felt…nothing!  I literally stared at the bread, trying to make myself want it, but I didn’t!  Now today, looking at some pizza crust, I felt a bit of jealousy…but it was brief.  I can’t tell you how fulfilling that is.  On the down side, things like pumpkin pie and the power bagels at school are still pretty hard not to gaze at, longingly.  But I’ve always been a sucker for sweets so that’s expected!  Still…there is obvious improvement. And that’s what it’s all about right?   Oh, speaking of improvement…I can feel and see a difference on my body.  My stomach feels flatter…and maybe that’s my imagination or wishful thinking, but whatever it is, I’m glad for it!

I have started to get bored though pretty easily.  Chicken is good of course and I’m going through eggs like they’re the only thing keeping me alive, but I need variety!  So last night I declared that I would be in charge of dinner and I decided to get creative.

I’ve been reading a lot about Spaghetti Squash.  Not even on purpose, I just keep running across recipes for it in my search for tasty new things.  Now, when I cook for other people I automatically feel judged.  From the moment I start prepping.  Needless to say, I’m a nervous wreck throughout the process.  I hide it pretty well, but don’t want anyone to talk to me in the process because I’m focused…making sure that not only do I not screw it up, but that it’s something people want seconds of.  Plus, I had been very excited about this spaghetti squash I had heard so much about and wanted it to succeed!  So did it?  YES IT DID!  It MORE than succeeded.  Spaghetti squash looks like an oompa-loompa-ed yellow squash.  It also feeds a LOT.  Paleo recipes commonly use it as a substitute for pasta, something that I was not at all convinced would work until I made it.  The best news?  It is SO easy!  Here’s how I did it…

Cut the squash in half, hotdog style.  CAREFUL!  It’s really hard to cut and I hear that you have to avoid cutting through the stem because it could chip your knife!

Scrape out the seeds

Brush with melted Ghee (a clarified butter…find it at your local SPROUTS!) and season with pepper and LITTLE salt

Place them each inside-down in a microwave safe dish that can be covered with a lid

Leave a vent in the lid (somewhat uncovered) and microwave for 8-12 minutes.

Let it cool for about 10 minutes and scrape out the “strings” with a fork.  

I know you’re surprised but…I put lemon on mine and it TRANSFORMED it

Sis liked it even before I put the lemon on…in fact, everyone did!  The best part about it is it saves well, so you can make a lot of it easily and quickly.  No, I lied..the best part is, you can put tons of other stuff with it.  My Paleo app suggested ground beef  or any other sort of protein.  Looks like that’s what I’ll be having for dinner tonight.  Moral of the story is, MAKE THE SPAGHETTI SQUASH!!! This is a staple for sure, especially for us “Swink-ers” who get home after a long workout and need a quick meal or you parents who ALWAYS need a quick and easy meal.  Enjoy the squash…and please, let me know how you like it!

Treat yo’ body RIGHT! Or in the words of the boy…”think of food as a medicine for your body…are you medicating or poisoning?”

xoxo…Gossip Girl.

Just kidding 🙂

-Bets