1 (2 1/2 to 3 pound) spaghetti squash, cut in half lengthwise and seeds removed
1 pound lean ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp onion powder
1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground pepper
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 cup shredded plant based mozzarella cheese
Fresh basil for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Drizzle olive oil on spaghetti squash halves and season with salt and pepper. Bake squash halves cut side down for 50 minutes.
Cook ground beef in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion powder, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer.
Use a fork to scrape the squash flesh from the shells into the sauce; stir to combine. Top with cheese. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until bubbling, about 15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Serve sprinkled with basil, if desired.
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice zucchini lengthwise, scoop out insides and reserve for later.
2. Place zucchini halves cut side up into bottom of 9×13 baking dish. Drizzle with 1tbsp oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Bake zucchini until it turns bright green and is just beginning to soften approximately 10 minutes.
4. In skillet over medium heat, heat 1tbsp oil. Add onion and reserved zucchini and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ground beef breaking up with a wooden spoon; cook until beef is no longer pink.
5. Stir in chili powder, paprika, cumin and season with salt and pepper.
6. Stir in black beans, cherry tomatoes, and corn.
7. Spoon beef mixture into zucchini halves and top with cheese.
8. Bake until cheese is melted and zucchini is tender about 15 minutes. Serve.
Cook quinoa according to package directions . Cool and move to large bowl.
In a large nonstick skillet heat 1/4 cup water over medium heat. Add corn; cook and stir until crisp-tender, 3-4 minutes. Add to quinoa; stir in tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and mint.
In a small bowl, whisk oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper until blended. Pour over quinoa mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Just before serving, stir in almonds.
I made this for a Memorial Day family potluck and received many compliments from family members on how good and healthy it was.
I am feeling so blessed by the Holy Spirit in my life. Earlier this year end of last year I prayed for help to overcome some bad lifestyle and eating habits. I was overwhelmed with work and home and used u healthy coping mechanisms that began to deteriorate my health and energy. I was at a point where I was severely overweight and was struggling to make it through each day. I tried to make improvements I joined a local gym and began exercising regularly but was unable to overcome my unhealthy eating and drinking habits on my own. I prayed for help to overcome my unhealthy habits and regain control of myself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Right before lent was about to begin this year the owner of the gym I go to approached me about these supplements she had been taking that had made a profound difference in her health. Along with the supplements there was a 28 day detox program and bootcamp workout to complete and enroll in. I looked into it and at first the cost of the supplements really set me back. I wanted to get healthy but I didn’t know that I was prepared to make that big of an investment into myself at the time. I thought and prayed about the program and ultimately decided I would do it. Not only did I decide to do it but my oldest daughter Kaitlyn (22) and my daughter Anabelle (17) also decided to join me since they had both been wanting to lose weight too and it was a perfect opportunity for us all to be accountability buddies to one another.
We ordered our supplements, enrolled in the bootcamp and prepared to start the program cleaning out kitchen cabinets of foods we would no longer need and replacing with healthy options. We began the detox on a Wednesday beginning both the supplements, the meal plan, and the bootcamp workouts. We created a group chat to hold one another accountable sharing our successes and struggles. I remember going into the program thinking I don’t know how I can make this big of a change. How can I give up caffeine, alcohol, sweets and grains all at once? I’m going to feel like I’ve been hit by freight train. But I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong there were days where it was hard but I stuck to the plan and made my way through the moment.
By the end of my first 28 days I was down 30 pounds and so were my daughters. We saw improvements not only to our weight but out overall health. We had overcome years of bad eating habits and regained control of ourselves.
We’ve gone on to do a second 28 day detox and have just started our 3rd. We are down over 45 pounds a piece and have new healthy habits, like drinking water all day versus coffee, soda, and alcohol. We have energy levels that allow us to enjoy life more fully. I have regained mental clarity and focus to perform better at work and home. We have truly been blessed. I am so grateful for my prayers being answered and the Holy Spirit guiding me to where I am.
You never realize how fleeting time is until you have children who are grown. Years ago in the moment of raising littles my focus was to get through each day not taking the time to cherish every moment with them.
This weekend we went to the lake for fishing and camping. These will be firsts for me along with my 2 1/2 year old son Jaxon.
Leading up to our trip Jaxon was so excited. For several days he said, “I going to go fishing at the lake.” We got there and he saw the lake and his excitement heightened as the talked about lake was now real and mere feet from where we begin to setup camp.
As my husband and I unload the truck and begin setting up the tent. Jaxon sits in his lawn chair admiring the lake and waiting patiently for mom and dad to be ready to venture closer to the lake.
After some battles with high winds and a broken tent on our hands we concede we will not be able to camp for the night. My husband and I gather up the fishing gear and some beach toys and take Jaxon to venture closer to the lake.
As we approach the water Jaxon is very wide eyed in awe of the lake before him. We find a good fishing spot and my husband goes out into the lake. Jaxon attempts to follow but becomes stuck in some mud and falls forward feet and hands now dirty. My toddler now says, “I’m dirty. Clean me off!” In a panicked voice. I help him out of the mud and show him how to clean off his hands and feet in the water. After cleaning off the mud he is done with the water and wants to be carried to the beach to avoid stepping through the muddy sand again.
On the beach we take out his beach toys and use the shovels to dig down in the sand and fill buckets to make sand castles. Jaxon loves the sand filling his buckets and dumping them back onto the sand forming his sand castle.
Jaxon and I continue to play in the sand for the rest of the afternoon as my husband continues to fish. No fish were caught. Many buckets of sand were filled. And new memories made.
We head back to our campsite to reload the car. As we walk away Jaxon says, “I have a good day. The lake is fun.”
We reload the car just in time before a storm begins to form over the lake. Maybe the breaking of our tent poles was a divine sign we weren’t meant to camp that night with a toddler in storms. We still made memories and can make more another time with an overnight camp. As soon as we buy another tent!
What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?
Everyone depending on their life path and where they are at on their journey will have a different answer to what “having it all” means.
For my younger self “having it all” was centered around money, material possessions, and notoriety. For many years I sought to attain all these things and thought them to be the most important things in life. In the end I was left disappointed when none of the things were the answer to living a happy life.
Now as I seek to find my purpose and passion in life. “Having it all” looks very different for me. I seek to have a comfortable, peaceful, and fulfilling life. I am fulfilled through scripture, quality time with my family, helping others and fulfilling my purpose for life.
Full of Grace 