Living like it’s winter

Now that I’ve had Nourish bread I can’t go back to regular bread!!

This time I topped it with almond butter.  I felt full after, but not weighed down or roll-me-to-the-couch-I’m-stuffed.  I was feeling pretty lazy though, truth be told, which I attribute to the grey skies.  Even though I went on a bike ride that morning, I was still lacking motivation to leave the house for church.  I don’t think I could ever live outside of CA again.

You can’t tell how much squash is in here from the photo, but it is a really big tub.  And it only cost 3.99!!  I was in shock when I saw it (I was at the Safeway near my parents’ house which is an exceptional Safeway and very different from the Safeway here in Davis).  I did a double take on my way to the kombucha aisle and came back to get it.

SCORE.

This is a better deal than TJs or Costco or any other place I’ve seen pre-chopped squash.  First off, the size of the cubes is smaller than the ones at TJs and way more realistic for eating and serving.  Thumbs up.  Also, it was clearly cut up hours before because it was packaged in house, which means I don’t have the risk of it being slimy (an issue I have had both times I’ve tried Costco’s packaged butternut, which I will never get again). Thumps up numero dos.

Roasting time!  I made banana bread for Kyle’s breakfasts this week too.

With a cinnamon swirl inside and a brown sugar crumble on top.  He had some this morning and texted me from the kitchen while I was upstairs showering to tell me how good it was.  🙂

Exhausting morning?  He came out from “quiet time” to watch football and I told him he could watch until one commercial, but he fell asleep before then…

Eventually we transferred him to the couch.

Kyle and I rode our bikes to play tennis that afternoon and then stopped at the park on the way home.

And then…we made a very bold move…and got out the Christmas decor!  You guys, our tree is up, the stockings are hung, the countdown (36, as of yesterday) is ON.

DINNER.  OMG this salad.  I’m going to write down what it had so we can all remake this 100 more times this season, okay?

Winter Salad [serves 2-4]

Ingredients:

  • 4-6 cups greens (I used a mix of spinach, kale, cabbage, radicchio, and shaved Brussels sprouts)
  • 1 butternut squash, cubed and roasted*
  • 2 cups chicken, diced (~1 1/2 breasts)
  • 1 cup pecans, roasted
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup goat chevre, crumbled
  • champagne vinaigrette [see below]
  • salt and pepper (to taste)

Champagne vinaigrette

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp champagne vinegar
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • salt and pepper

Whisk together until emulsified.

*First roast the squash.  Pre heat the oven to 375.  Toss squash in olive oil until well coated, add salt, and spread onto a baking sheet.  Roast for ~35 minutes.  Broil for the last minute or two if you want extra bronzed pieces.

If you don’t have already baked chicken on hand, you can bake this with the squash.  Depending on the size and thickness it may need more or less time though.

While the squash is roasting, make the vinaigrette in a large serving bowl.  Add the greens and toss (do this early if you are using cruciferous greens like kale and brussels).

Once the squash is done, pour pecans onto a baking sheet and toast them in the already hot (broil setting) oven.  Keep your eyes on them because they will burn.  They only need a few minutes!

Add the squash to the greens, toss again, and then add the rest of the ingredients (diced chicken, nuts, cranberries, and cheese).

This salad is bomb.

I could eat it alllllll day.

I imagine any squash (or sweet potato!?) would do.

Likewise, any roasted nut or seed could stand in for the pecans.

It’s pretty versatile, although this was definitely on the money as. is.

This sweetheart spent all his quiet time that night listening to the Nutcracker while lying next to his Nutcracker.  Christmas…full steam ahead.

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Comments (5)

  1. Ttrockwood

    That salad looks totally amazing!! I had one too many icky precut squash experiences to ever buy it again but then again i also don’t have a safeway near by (which even the most crummy safeway location ever is still 100% improvement over the nyc chain groceries!). Roasted squash totally makes the best salad ingredient.
    I refuse to acknowledge xmas until the day after thanksgiving but i am totally healous of your mom’s awesome sweater, that i would wear every.day.possible. (Who has a christmas party before thanksgiving?!?)

  2. Lesq

    I am doing fabulous and have really figured out a diet now that works. Unfortunately, your diet was my exact diet and I realized there was a lot of things that were a prob on the daily, but not occasionally. I have had immense relief and have even travelled three times without even a minor flare up, but the minute I deviate back to the food I love I am bloated and the whole nine yards. I have done a lot of research and my doctor said about a year on my healing diet to possibly be in a place to not have to watch and be cautious in order to have no symptoms. I can email you privately what I am doing. It is a PIA but I am doing it and feeling sooooo much better. The heavy breads and grains in the morning with the nut butters is how I ate daily and not allowed to anymore as well as the nuts. I battled against this, but have found this plan to be much lighter and easy on my system. There’s a lot to explain though–the coconut oil, coconut milk, avocado, etc might not be as great as you think for your small intestine and lower motility. As well as the tricalcuim phosphate and calcium carbonate all reall fake replacements of calcium found in cows milk. There’s a lot of other components to my diet and I can try to explain. Heaviness of it, amount of waste left after digestion. I eat a very tasty diet for example, last night sautéed kale, saluted Brussels both separately and seasoned with olive oil and onions(didn’t eat the salted onions), chicken francaise and black forbidden rice. All purchased at a gourmet store, but I made the black rice. Lunch very thin slices(4) of fresh organic turkey and one slice of alpine lace swiss(dr is trying to get a drop of dairy in to see and Swiss cheese from its aging has certain probiotics in it) lettuce, tomato, cucumber on one piece of Lavian whole wheat sourdough bread(big slices) bought at a bakery that uses starters no yeast and all flours are local and organic–Orwashers on the upper east side. I can only do sourdough bread. I can use Sir kennsingtons mustard and twice per week 1/8 of an avocado(explain further privately about avocado and to much for a damaged gut lining). Fruit–kiwi, papaya, berries( only in summer not frozen and not even organic Driscoll important from Mexico). Okay enough of my 💩💩(no pun intended) I am sure you have had enough of me. And btw, I am an extremely happy individual full of gratitude and heart and soul for my family and wonderful life. I adore my husband and children and am always smiling a laughing. I have a very serious side and a side that is lighthearted and through yoga very easy going. I have figured out what not to sweat over anymore–finally. Healing is a process and hopefully I am on my way. As the doctor said it’s not forever it’s a vacation for my body to heal–a much needed one.

  3. Elise (Post author)

    I KNOW! Usually I’m w you on waiting until after Thanksgiving, but since we had friendsgiving so early this year I’ve been in the mood a little earlier than usual.

  4. Elise (Post author)

    Your doctor intrigues me so much! It’s so rare for an MD to have nutrition knowledge. I wish I had someone near me with that kind of expertise and willingness to experiment with diet to sort out my GI issues.

  5. Elise (Post author)

    PS I loooove hearing about your diet and life and everything so don’t ever feel like your comments are going unappreciated. XXX

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