Crazy that it was still light out when I took my dinner photos at 7:30!! It makes them look less formal 🙂
Butternut Squash + Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan, Saffron and Thyme
Delicious! For this dish we cooked 2 servings of arborio rice in a little less than 2 cups of homemade chicken stock (until the liquid was absorbed). Then we added a pint of sliced button mushrooms, along with some strands of saffron and some dried thyme.
On the side, we prepped and sauteed a medium butternut squash (about 24 oz).
We mixed both together and added just over an ounce of grated Asiago cheese along with about 1/3 a tbsp of real butter. It was delightful!
This bowl was about 480 kcal, 9 grams of fiber and 18 grams protein. It was super filling!
Walk
Maran (my blog friend who lives across the street!) and I met for a walk at 4:00 with her cute little dog – I should have taken a photo! We walked and talked for about 35 minutes around the neighborhood – time flies when you’re chatting away!
Snack Mountain
When we got back I had a large juicy pear (it was SOO good!) over top Kashi GoLean and hemp milk. All sprinkled with flax.
I also had hot tea earlier in the afternoon. I am doing my best to give up Splenda. I haven’t had it in 3 days! I am just trying to enjoy the tea/coffee/pumpkin for what it is and focusing on the flavors. It seems to be going well, but I did put Stevia in my coffee. Not sure what to do tomorrow because I used our last packet! (See this post for a discussion on Splenda and Stevia). I can handle plain tea, but not plain coffee. I love a good cup of coffee though! I’d hate to give it up. Le sigh.
Basketball
So sad that my team lost last night 😥 But my alma mater team is leading the nation in wins with a 21-game winning streak!! Congrats to Davidson for another big win tonight in the So-Con Tourney!
AHHHHHH NEED TO STUDY!!!!!
Night guys!
Emma says
im trying to use less and less artificial sweetners and splenda too! ive gotten a lot better… but it is hard! and your dinner looks scrumptious!
VeggieGirl says
Oh my goodness, I know! I was eating dinner and it looked like it was still the afternoon outside! The time change is definitely throwing me off, haha :0)
Oooh, I LOVE your idea of mixing pears with hempmilk (**she types, as she downs a tall glass of hempmilk, sans pears**). Yum! And your dinner looks spectacular as well.
Good luck studying – have a great Sunday evening!
Kathryn says
Can’t wait to try the risotto recipe. I just tried a great healthy lasagna recipe tonight that I found on Self.com. Soooo good. Here it is:
LEAN LASAGNA
Homemade, at least the way SELF does it, fills you up without filling you out, but it takes an hour to make. Freeze the leftovers for quick meals that are more healthful than most of the ones you find in the freezer section of the supermarket.
Preparation Time: Ready in 1 hour
Makes 8 servings.
Vegetable-oil cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 lb ground turkey breast
3 cups tomato sauce
3 tsp Italian seasoning (or 1 tsp each dried basil, parsley, and oregano)
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
6 cups chopped fresh spinach (or chard)
2 cups fat-free ricotta
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 package whole-wheat lasagna noodles(about 8 oz, or 9 noodles)
2 cups (8 oz) shredded part-skim mozzarella
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a medium-sized nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Sauté onion for 2 minutes, then add turkey and cook an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomato sauce, all seasonings and mushrooms and simmer 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat. In a bowl, combine spinach, ricotta, and nutmeg. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water. Coat a 9″ x 13″ baking pan with cooking spray. Arrange 1/3 lasagna noodles (3 noodles) on the bottom of the pan. Spread a layer of ricotta mixture, then turkey mixture, then 1/3 mozzarella. Repeat layers, ending with mozzarella. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until cheese bubbles. Cool at least 5 minutes before cutting.
Nutritional analysis per serving: 310 calories, 6 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 31 g carbohydrates, 33 g protein, 4 g fiber
Leah says
Hi Kath, a Winthrop Alum’ here. Are you giving up Splenda based on Skinny Bitch? I know a blogger sent you a copy and I’m wondering if you’ve gotten very far…..I took the whole book with a grain of salt (buh dum bum). However, I did start skimping on the Splenda (uh, and meat, and dairy…..there’s not much left!) after Skinny Bitch.
Trying to eat ‘closer to the plant’ after that book….maybe that will help me become a Skinny Bitch! Or, maybe I’ll feel so deprived I’ll just become a bitch in general!
Leah 😉
Jennifer says
Kath why don’t you just use a small amount of real sugar in your tea? 1 tsp. has only 15 calories and at least you know you get to put a bit of sweetness in your drink without all that artificial junk.
Just curious question to readers:
Has anyone else got their family hooked on this blog?? I have gotten about 3 family members reading it and a couple friends…they all have started eating healthier as a result!
kay says
Is it so wrong to use some sugar? Stevia is pretty expensive…. Artificial sweetners tend to give me bad headaches and I just try to avoid them. But there are everywhere now from cereal to soymilk… 🙁
I was reading some of your ealier postings from Aug07 today (was curious to see what you ate in the summer time) and I thought your attitude towards food has become more relaxed compared to back then. Do you feel that way?
Asian pears are by far my favorites!! I had a really juicy one today, yum-o!
kay says
Sugar in the Raw is good!
sweet potato Amy (one day I'll drop the sweet potato preface) says
Kath + Husband + Readers–
Any suggestions for foods to eat when your body goes into fiber-overload? My stomach is cramping like crazy but all of my favorite foods have a fair amount of fiber (wow, alliteration anyone?), and so any suggestions of foods I could try would be lovely.
Thanks!
Amy
Betsy says
mmmm, butternut squash! I really wanted some today and tried to buy a small one at the farmers market, but they said it was $6.50!!! For 1 little butternut squash!! grrrr…I’ll wait till next fall, thanks.
Maran
If you’re around…I totally forgot to respond to you on my blog. Yeah-I think I’m going to come down to Charlotte this summer to see my family, I’ll let you know!! We can talk about Cleveland 😉
email me at betsycookshealthy[at]gmail[dot]com
BethT says
Hmm, not only am I a Carolina fan, I’m ALSO an Appalachian fan, so we are SoCon rivals too! :p
I know you and your hubby are Alton Brown fans – your dinner made me recall one of his recipes. Have you ever seen his recipe for brown rice? He bakes it in the oven and it is really interesting that way…
Romina says
Mmm. Risotto sounds perfect. Nice comfort food!
NCCarter says
I agree with some of the previous posters that a little sugar isn’t a bad thing. I usually have 2-3 cups of coffee in the morning. I put Splenda in one of them, and then organic unrefined sugar in the rest. It’s hard to get used to the mindset that it’s actually OKAY to have a little real sugar, though.
Julia says
Kath do you wear your heart rate monitor when going for walks?
Kiala says
I feel the same way about sugar. I use stevia but I’m totally afraid it’s going to give me the cancer.
Ashley H says
wow that dinner looks delicious and I think I might have to try that snack too tomorrow!
I have been cutting out splenda too esp. after I read the chapter on sweetners in Skinny Bitch. Luckily I am a tea girl so I have been getting along alot better than I thought I would have.
Jane says
I stumbled upon ur blog a few weeks ago and now i’m hooked! everything you make looks amazing. ^-^
too bad I am a college student living at the dorms w/ no kitchen T_T
Caroline says
Jane–I hear ya on the lack of kitchen! I am thoroughly enjoying my spring break right now, with access to a kitchen!!
Kath–your snack mountain looks delicious! You’re making me want to try hemp milk…And, I wanted to let you know that I, too, am mourning Duke’s loss last night. I am a sophomore there, so I am hoping that they will win against UNC in Cameron before I graduate!
Kath says
Leah,
Cool you went to Winthrop!! I haven’t touched Skinny Bitch yet (still on Eat, Pray, Love…and Physiology!).
Jennifer,
Perhaps I need to learn to only add a tsp instead of the amount I did this morning- probably 3-4 tsp! Thanks for sharing with your family!
Kay,
Yes, I feel like I have come a looooong way with my attitude towards food and health throughout the past 2-4 years 🙂 Practice makes (one closer to) perfect right?!
sweet potato Amy,
I’m not sure what you can do to reduce fiber effects other than be sure you’re getting enough water – and not eat any more fiber-heavy foods.
Betsy,
$6.50 for a squash!?!? I mean I think they are worth $100 each they are so good, but not really 🙂 Ours are usually around $2-3 because we get the huge ones. $.79 per pound is good, $.99 is OK. I’ve seen them for $1.99 per pound, but I think that was organic.
BethT,
I think we have the rice episode DVRed. I’ll have to try to watch it soon!
Julia,
No, I don’t wear my HRM for walks. I have before just to see what my average heart rate is (about 100-105), but I don’t normally wear it.
Jane,
Welcome to KERF!
Caroline,
It was such a bummer wasn’t it 🙁 It’s time for Duke to win another NCAA championship, I say!
Kath
Scott @ One Food Guy says
Hey Kath, you’re risotto looks fantastic! I love that it’s still light out at dinner time now! Summer is so close….
Betsy says
i was SHOCKED when she told me how much it was. I normally pay $2 for the entire (LARGE) squash. i just glared at her and put it back. 🙁