Recipe Wednesday - Record Cold Requires Comfort Food

     Recipe Wednesday means I bring you a great recipe to consider for your collection.  My intention is to bring you delicious recipes featuring better food choices.  Let's face it, if it doesn't taste good, you won't eat it no matter how good it is for you.   Today's feature is Low Carb Baked Spaghetti Squash.

Baby, it's cold outside!  Warm up on the inside with healthy comfort food.  Graphic from www.climatecrocks.com.

     February 2015 polar vortex brings historic cold, and cold weather requires  good ol' comfort food.   Comfort food doesn't have to be a belt buster, it can be good for you.  Give this Recipe Wednesday's feature a try:

Find  more tasty and good for you recipes at www.kitchme.com .

Low Carb Baked Spaghetti Squash with Garlic Cream Sauce

Prep Time: 10 min     Cook Time: 45 min    Ready in 55 min    Serves 6

Ingredients:

2-1/2 # spaghetti squash

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 clove garlic, pushed through press

3 tsp fresh sage, finely chopped OR 1/2 tsp dried sage

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2.  Prick squash in several places with a fork and bake 45 minutes until tender.

3.  Allow squash to cool slightly.

4.  As the squash is cooling, heat cream, garlic and sage in sauce pan over medium heat.

5.  Cook 10 minutes until cream thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.

6.  Cut squash in half, scoop out seeds.  Pull squash strands out from each half with a fork, transfering to warm serving bowl.

7.  Pour sauce over squash and toss lightly to coat.

8.  Add salt and pepper to taste, sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

9.  Serve immediately.  Enjoy!

Recipe from Kitchme.com, inspired by original recipe on Food.com, 5 star rated, 46 reviews.

Search Recipe Wednesday for other health inspired recipes.  Remember, food that's good for you can taste good, too!

LINKS:
Cooler Weather means Comfort Food - substitutions for healthier cooking

Recipe Wednesday - Cauliflower "Mock Mashed Potatoes"

Recipe Wednesday means I bring you a great recipe to consider for your collection.  My intention is to bring you delicious recipes featuring better food choices.  Let's face it, if it doesn't taste good, you won't eat it no matter how good it is for you.  Today's feature is cauliflower mock mashed potatoes.

This is quick and easy, low carb and puts a delicious twist on what you can do with cauliflower.  Some people are seeking low carb alternatives to mashed potatoes, others another idea for what you can do with a cauliflower, others seeking do disguise vegetables so the kids will eat them.  My husband was a skeptic the first time I made these, now he requests them!

Start with one head of cauliflower.  Break into flouretes and steam until soft (aprox. 6 minutes).  I add a few pinches of salt to the few tablespoons of water I use to steam the cauliflower.

Once the cauliflower is cooked, drain and mash.  You can use a hand masher, a stick blender or a food processor.  Mash to your hearts content, and the desired consistency.  While mashing add the remainder of the ingredients, I've given some options below.

Option 1
1 tablespoon cream cheese (or neufchatel cheese)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon chicken boullion
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon chives (for garnish or to mix in)
      (I've also used green onions instead of chives)

Option 2
2-4 tablespoons half and half 
2 wedges of laughing cow garlic and herb cheese spread
   (or garden vegetable flavor cream cheese)

Again, salt to taste, though I find that if I salt the water I steam the cauliflower in, it is salty enough.

Bottom line is that these are a quick and easy alternative to mashed potatoes, or a great addition next to them on the plate.  Try them and don't be afraid to tweak the recipe, trying new combinations of the above.  The best cooks learn to use what they have on hand to create delicous, well balanced meals.  These have become a new staple and quick go-to in my kitchen.

Enjoy!

You May also enjoy:
Lemon Broccoli with Garlic

Cheesy Hashbrowns get a makeover

Pumpkin Cookies

Be sure to try typing "recipe" into the search bar of this website to see what other delicous recipes I've found!