Chicken Vegetable Marinara with Spaghetti Squash

Serve the sauce blended, partially blended or chunky (like mine) for a healthy and fresh dinner.

I’ll be honest, this dish does include some time in the kitchen (60-80 minutes) for prepping and cooking, but your health and taste buds will be justly rewarded! It is also a great dish for hiding vegetables from picky eaters and boosting everyone’s’ health. Either blend part or all of the vegetables with an immersion blender to make a thick spaghetti sauce or leave the vegetables whole. No matter what you choose, you’ll create a nutritious, preservative-free homemade spaghetti sauce.

 

Ingredients:

2 lbs chicken breast

1 spaghetti squash

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 acorn squash, peeled and chopped

2 heads of broccoli, cut into florets

6 carrots, chopped

2 red bell peppers, chopped

6 cloves of garlic, crushed and minced

1 24 oz jar of tomato sauce, low sodium

3 Tbsp dried oregano

3 Tbsp dried basil

1 bay leaf

1/2-3/4 tsp sea salt

20 turns black pepper

 

Directions:

1. In a dutch oven or glass baking dish, add a 1/4 cup of water and chicken breasts with a pinch of sea salt. Cover with the lid (or foil) and slow roast on 325° for 45-60 minutes. Let the chicken rest for 20 minutes before cutting it into chunks. Set aside.

2. While chicken is roasting, chop the spaghetti squash in half, remove the seeds and place cut side up on a baking sheet with a little olive oil. Bake for 45 minutes or until finished. Allow to cool before using a fork to remove the spaghetti squash from the skin.

3. While chicken and spaghetti squash are cooking, chop the vegetables (acorn squash, broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, garlic). When the chicken is finished baking, remove it from the dutch oven, pour out the water and add the olive oil. Then add the vegetables and garlic and saute for 15 minutes. (If you do not have a dutch oven, a large stock pot will work too).

4. Next add the tomato sauce, herbs and chicken and simmer for 15 minutes. If you want to blend the sauce, simmer first without the chicken, then blend it and add the chicken at the end.

5. Serve chicken marinara over the spaghetti squash and enjoy!

Options: additional vegetables (onion, zucchini, eggplant) or top with chopped green onions, olives and/or goat cheese–just have fun with it!

Serves 4-5

DIY Healthy Holiday Gifts

Spicy Cashews, almonds and pumpkin seeds.

Homemade gifts for family and friends make me smile–they are thoughtful, personal and unique. I love giving and receiving them! And who doesn’t like giving gifts? Here are some nourishing warm fuzzies to share with your loved ones this holiday. Hugs!

 1. Spicy Nuts Choose a variety of nuts and seeds, toast them in a skillet until lightly brown, then toss them with olive oil and your favorite spices. Add Golgi berries for a sweet kick or just keep it all spicy. Place them in a bag with a pretty bow or in a festive tin.

2. I Burned You a Mixed CD Oh, yes… this may bring you back to 1998, but it’s all good. Make a playlist of your favorite exercise songs and burn them onto a disc. 70 minutes of booty shakin’ good lovin’ right there!

 3. Turtle Smoothie in a Jar Instead of filling a mason jar with homemade chocolate chip cookie ingredients, fill the jar with 2 servings of your favorite protein powder, 3 Tbsp raw cocoa powder, and 1/4 cup raw pecans. All they have to do is add 4 Tbsp peanut, almond or sunflower seed butter, 12 oz almond milk, a banana and 12 oz ice. Tie a cute bow around the jar with the recipe attached. Makes 2 smoothies.

4. Couples Coupons Are these über cheesy? Yes. Are they completely awesome if you are the recipient? Heck yes! Design coupons and print them out on card stock. Fill in your own gifts of massage, foot rubs, cook their favorite healthy dinner, go on a walk, etc. Have fun and spoil your loved one!

5. Fruit and Vegetable Wash This is perfect for your veggie lover friends! Find a cute or fun spray bottle and fill it with 1 cup of water, 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 Tbsp baking soda and juice of 1/2 lemon. As always, attach the recipe so they can refill it and use it time and time again.

6. Take the Chill Out Chili in a Jar Nothing says “Happy Holidays” like homemade warm and cozy soup! Use your favorite chili (or other signature soup) recipe and place all of the spices in a mason jar. Tie a bow around the jar with the recipe attached.

Recipes courtesy of Stephanie Bell