Spaghetti Squash and Black-Eyed Pea Patties with Brown Sugar Spinach
We have mixed feelings about this dinner. We can’t decide if:
1) We ruined the recipe trying to be too cool with the ingredients
2) It was really, really good
3) We were tipsy
Once we sat down to eat we were done in 5 minutes. We knew we were eating too fast, but we couldn’t stop. BOTH of us. So strange.
So I’m not sure if this was such a good meal that we loved it, or the fact that we ate too fast and the flavors were all over the place meant it needs much more work. Any opinions from the looks of it!?
Wine
We celebrated my last day of work by opening a bottle of wine we brought back from the honeymoon.
It. was. so. good.
2003 La Storia Cuvee 32, Alexander Valley Estate
From Trentadue Winery in Sonoma.
I REALLY wanted a second glass, but I had that “I’m feeling dehydrated = not good” feeling in me and just had one sip of the husband’s second pour to satisfy my palate (for a total of 5 fl. oz of wine). We’ll have the rest tomorrrow!
Patty Prep
We had two things to use up in the fridge: spaghetti squash and black-eyed peas. I got the idea for the spaghetti squash patties from Roni’s Green Lite Bites site. They were quite good! We topped them with a dollop of plain yogurt.
Mixing bowl. They were really, really runny so we had to squeeze out the water before searing them, but they turned out fine. And we added carrots and celery instead of peppers. We used the other half of the carrots/celery in the pea patties.
Patty:
The black-eyed peas were our own invention. We combined:
- 1 oz foccacia bread (pureed in the food processor into breadcrumbs – but you couldn’t even taste the bread in the patty)
- 1 medium carrot, minced
- 1 medium stalk celery, minced
- 1/4 cup egg whites
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 cup black-eyed peas
Form into 4 patties. Sear in cooking spray.
Ingredients:
On the skillet:
Done! With a dollop of hot sauce.
Lastly, we sauteed a bunch of spinach in cooking spray, added 1 mini box raisins and 1 tsp brown sugar. The combo of sweet/savory with the patties was GREAT! I love mixing side and main dishes like that. I would have liked to have had about 3 times this much spinach, but it was still delicious.
All together for ~ 412 kcal (including 5 oz wine)
Again, we ate too fast. So once we were done we had to go watch a Family Guy to keep from digging into something else and let our stomach’s settle (the husband’s idea – not mine!). Let me tell you, I LOVE to sing the Family Guy theme song in a nasal accent!!
Dessert
After Family Guy I had a small hot chocolate. It was exactly what I wanted!! Plus a small truffle that wasn’t that great.
Snack
Afternoon snack at work: apple and 1.5 oz Sami’s Pita Chips
Recap
Total Friday calories: 1781
– 545 in spin class and a little lunch walking
= net of 1235
Work
My last day of work was very bittersweet. I’m SO excited about the upcoming years but it was definitely sad to say goodbye to everyone. My cube was so empty when I left! I will miss the office, but HELLO nutrition!
Your Wonderful Comments
THANK YOU for all of your wonderful comments!!! It’s so nice to have such a great group of women (and men??) reading the blog. I get very excited to post each night when I know I have people excited to read.
I’m sorry to be behind on comments but today was quite crazy. I promise to catch up tomorrow – I’m too tired to keep typing tonight!
Kath
roni says
I think they look great!
Not sure about the black eyed peas, I never had them before.
Kath says
Thanks Roni! I thought the spaghetti squash cakes were GREAT – better than the mustardy pea ones. Probably because they were sweeter from the whole wheat flour! What a smart invention. Thanks for thinking it up! I think I want to try doing the same method with cinnamon and sugar for a more desserty twist next time!
K
Trish says
What is your average heart rate when you workout? According to my heart rate monitor (the one you recommended), I am always above my target HR when I workout.
Kath says
Trish,
I aim for 150 – it’s usually 160ish on the Stairmaster, 150-160 when running, 140-150 spinning and 155 on ET. 100-120 when weight lifting with some dips into the 130’s. I’ve been doing this for a LONG time 🙂
Meg says
got my eggnoggn tea. everything is okay now. : )
Ala says
I know what you mean about eating too fast at dinner sometimes! My SO and I are sometimes ‘in a zone’ at dinner and we don’t realize that we gobble up our serving within several minutes! I hate when I do that…lol.
I think the patties look interesting! I would never have thought to combine those ingredients. Did it have a sort of veggie hashbrown taste to them? That is what it reminded me of…
Oh and don’t feel bad about not getting to all the comments…I am actually always surprised at how quick and thoughtful all of your replies are. You really put great effort into this blog and it shows! Thank you!
Ala says
OH- update on the Celestial Seasonings TEA!!!
I found some in my grocery store- get this- on TOP of the isle shelves! hahaha. I got my SO to bring it down for me and I bought 11 boxes…gingerbread flavour, maple vanilla, and Candy Cane Lane. Still no eggnog I’m afraid! But I was so happy to find some. I’m sure I will panic and go buy more this weekend.
Allison says
Kath,
I just started reading your blog about a week ago. You are such an inspiration! I’ve recently lost 20 pounds…and i’m getting so into nutrition, and your blog just gets me more and more fascinated!
I’m trying oatmeal pancakes tomorrow morning!
Jen says
Hi Kath and “the husband”
I just wanted to thank you guys for all the great and healthy recipes. I’m going through a hard time right now with an eating disorder and am working with a therapist and nutritionist to get back on track.
I wanted to let you know that your recipes give me new and exciting food ideas that I know keep me healthy and make me feel good about myself.
-Thanks again and I hope you guys keep this blog going. It’s been great getting to know you both!!!
Danielle says
Well I certainly give it a thumbs up! Look-wise, at least… sorry for being so superficial 🙂 You and the husband are so creative when it comes to eating healthy, definitely a huge inspiration! I just read in the news about the storm that is supposed to hit North Carolina so I just wanted to tell you two to stay warm, dry, and safe. The winds are supposed to be treacherous. Enjoy your breakfast (that you’re probably eating as I speak)!
Kath says
Ala,
So glad you found the tea!!
Allison,
Thanks so much for the kind words – glad you like the blog!
Jen,
Thanks so much!! Good luck to you in your recovery.
Danielle,
Did you mean North California!? I got scared when I saw your comment and checked the weather but it’s going to be sunny and warm here for the next week or so!
Kath
Mo says
Kath,
I just found your blog and am reviewing some old posts for recipe inspirations. My husband and I got married last May, and love cooking together as well. (Oh, and I’m an RD and CDE.) One question, how do you stop yourself at one small glass of wine? I LOVE wine, and am never satisfied with just one glass, always need another glass or another 1/2 glass. (And we drink wine every night.) 🙂
Kath says
Mo,
Good question 🙂 I guess after one-too-many second glasses I just know after 4-5 oz it all starts to go downhill. It’s much easier on a week night than on a Friday night though!
Thanks for reading!
Kath