Fall Favorites & More

Happy Thursday!

This post is filled with food, so I hope you’ve got a healthy snack or meal ready to go, because if you make it through this, you just might be hungry when your’e done.

I began eating a cleaner diet just over five years ago. Less processed foods, more whole foods. I have been very focused on eating Paleo (avoiding sugar, dairy, grains, soy, legumes and highly processed foods) since September 1st, 2020 due to some health issues. By focusing on the large variety of foods that I can have instead of giving just a little bit of thought to the foods that I can’t have (or choose not to have), I’m realizing how much I love the foods that I’m eating because not only do they make my body feel good, they taste amazing! So, this post is filled with foods that follow the Paleo lifestyle, but their just foods. Wonderfully delicious foods that are whole, healthy, full of nutrients and flavor, that anyone can enjoy while also enjoying any other of the other foods that you enjoy and love to eat.

Along with eating Paleo, I’m now avoiding nightshades. Nightshades have been known to cause inflammation for some with autoimmune diseases. After doing some reading on inflammation and wanting to feel better, I had decided to eliminate those from my diet before my recent autoimmune diagnosis, and it seems to be helping. Really, I’ve changed so much I’m not sure if it’s just one thing or several things that have contributed to me feeling better, but I like the way I’m eating for now and the way that I’m feeling, so I’ll keep at it.

Nightshades……

• Peppers
• White potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Paprika
• Chili powder
• Eggplant

Whatever it is that you are choosing to eat, or not eat, hopefully you will find at least one thing in this post that you might like to try, or have tried and agree, it’s delicious!

I hope you are all having a great week! We’ve had lots of sunshine here in KC which has made it nice (and so much easier) for getting in some good outdoor walks. Being at the cabin was much like camping for me as it’s hard for me to come home and stay inside after spending so much time outside, so I’m feeling thankful for these sunny days.

We’ve had a few tough conversations with our kids and parents over the last week about what our Thanksgiving will look like this year as I would imagine many of you have also had.

We made the decision to cancel our traditional Thanksgiving and Mike and I will be enjoying a romantic Thanksgiving dinner for two while the rest of the family spends the holiday at their own home. It’s a bummer for sure but I know we’re not alone in making this decision, and I’ll get creative and ensure that we still have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

What are your plans for Thanksgiving this year?

If you are downsizing dramatically, I’d like to encourage you to make it just as special as if you were having a large gathering. Savor the day. Enjoy cooking some of your favorite foods and smell all the smells of the yummy aromas. Maybe you choose ONE favorite thing to make and savor that. Set the table. Use the tablecloth. Light the candles. Get those chargers out to put your plate on. Use the good dishes, the pretty glasses and the cloth napkins.

I’ll share our Thanksgiving Day menu then a few (okay, several) things I’ve been making over here at our house.

The menu for Mike and I this year is simple, but perfect for two with some of our favorite traditional flavors we love for Thanksgiving that will also allow us some leftovers.

• Skinnytaste Butternut Stuffed Turkey Breast with Cranberries and Pecans
• Trader Joe’s Sweet Potatoes (you’ll see these below in this post)
• Fresh Roasted Green Beans (drizzle with Olive oil, season with sea salt and roast at 425 for 15 minutes)
• Pumpkin Pie (I’m making this recipe using the filling only, skipping the crust, just not a crust fan)
• Coconut Whipped Topping (great dairy free topping!)

I made the Skinny Taste stuffed turkey breast for Mike and I a few years ago for the first time and them made this recipe again last year for a Friendsgiving.

After browning all sides of the stuffed turkey breast, these finish off in the oven which just makes the house smell cozy and festive. This will be perfect for our dinner for two.

Agreeably, not a beautiful picture from last year as they were browning on the stove so just focus on how good everything was smelling at the time.

Pumpkin Pie

I made this last week to give it a try. I was anxious to taste it and had my first bite while it was warm. I didn’t love it, but after 24 hours in the fridge, I did love it!

That’s our menu for Thanksgiving.

Now……let me share what we’ve been eating over here and a few recent finds.

Baked Eggs with Delicata Squash, Spinach and Feta

This was on one of the WW Weeklies and we both loved this for breakfast one day this week. This bakes in the oven, then top with feta. So different and full of a variety of flavors. Pretty too!

Roasted Delicata Squash

This is the sweet version of this squash that is really my favorite. I made this for us to have as a snack one afternoon this week while I was playing in the kitchen. I used my Roasted Delicata Squash recipe and topped it with toasted crushed pecans after removing it from the oven. We may have devoured this tasty little treat. These look crispy, but don’t let that fool you. They have a great texture, but only appear crispy as they do caramelize a bit.

• 

• 

Cast Iron Skillet Filet Mignon

I love a good steak but I try to keep red meat to a minimum. I bought these steaks to cook for Tess and I at the cabin because when she was little , a filet with potatoes was her most requested meal. Girl’s got good taste! Her and I ended up roasting Chicken Sausages on sticks over the fire that night. Talk about a drastic change in plans!

Mike and I gladly enjoyed a steak dinner with roasted Brussels sprouts and a glass of red wine after my trip to the cabin. These finish off in the oven and might be my favorite steak cooking method. Yes, that is butter in the skillet.

I love these evenings where I play music, dance around the kitchen and make us something yummy to enjoy together.

Butternut Squash Soup

This is another simple and yummy find on the WW App. I like this best topped with a little crisp bacon. Also yummy served over a bed of rotisserie chicken.

I found this Holiday Vegetable Hash at Trader Joe’s, but it would be very easy to make on your own as the ingredients are very simple. Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato, Red Onion, Celery, Parsley, Sage and Rosemary.

Sauté in the skillet with olive oil and eat on its own or add a protein. We had this for dinner one night topped with Rotisserie Chicken and Brunch one Sunday topped with Sunny Side up Eggs. I also took this to the cabin for Tess to try and she was a fan.

Butternut Squash

I’m so happy to have all the squash.

One of my favorite ways to cook Butternut Squash is to mix 1 T of Balsamic Vinegar, 1 T of Olive Oil and mix in a large bowl with cubed squash (or these pre-cut squash fries from Trader Joe’s). Sprinkle with sea salt and garlic powder and bake on parchment paper at 400 for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.

Great alone. Soooo good on top of a bed of Taco meat. Promise. Also good topped with eggs, but I mean, I’d put eggs on just about anything. We ate these along side grilled turkey burgers.

Roasted Butternut Squash

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Another happy Trader Joe’s find. I was skeptical but hopeful as I purchased three packages of these when I saw them. The ONLY ingredient in these? Sweet Potatoes. Surprisingly you simply put the desired amount in a bowl and microwave. That simple. These are crazy delicious and I’m now wondering, can I slice some sweet potatoes and freeze them and duplicate this simplicity?? I’ll try and let you know!

• 

• 

Chicken Piccata

I found this Chicken Piccata recipe in a magazine and it looked to good to not try.

I cut the recipe in half. I love capers but rarely cook with them. This was one I’ll be making again for sure.

Wrap Craving

I’m craving sandwiches/wraps lately. Eating Paleo is MUCH easier than it was just five years ago when I first gave it a try out of curiosity. I have a tortilla recipe that is Paleo and is really good but it is quite time consuming, so being able to find so many Paleo foods ready to eat has made meal time and snack time much easier.

I am finding these at one of our local grocery stores and at Whole Foods. They wrap best when heated just a few seconds in the microwave, otherwise they tend to crack when you fold them.

$9.99 for 6. That’s $1.66 a piece, but I think about what I used to spend for lunch eating out and it makes buying these a little easier.

Breakfast Burrito

Scrambled Eggs with Smashed Avocado. I always add a little lime juice and sea salt to my smashed up avocado. Still loving my Everything But the Bagel Seasoning.

• 

• 

• 

Lunch Wrap

Spinach, Rotisserie Chicken mixed with Dump Ranch Dressing, topped with sugar free bacon and avocado.

• 

• 

Taco Seasoning and this tortilla from the same company made for a great taco dinner last night. I included diced white sweet potato in the taco meat, topped with smashed avocado and a drizzle of Dump Ranch dressing.

Uh….yum.

• 

• 

Mushroom Spinach Egg Bake

Mike appreciates having an egg casserole cooked up and in the fridge. I know he makes a better breakfast choice when I take the time to do this, (he’s more of heater upper than he is a cooker) and really, a breakfast casserole of any kind is about one of the easiest things to make.

Whole Foods Finds

While I don’t shop here weekly as we would go broke, I do have a few favorites and the best luck finding Paleo foods ready to eat.

It was a quiet afternoon at the Whole Foods store, so I browsed the aisles a bit.

These Chicken Sausages ($6.99) are free from sugar (read your ingredient labels if you are avoiding any specific ingredients) and are great for grilling or dicing to add to a hash or a skillet meal and last a long time in the fridge, or you can freeze them.

I have found sugar free bacon at Trader Joe’s and Target as well but this one is my favorite. The bacon is $5.99 but does occasionally go on sale so I stock up when it does.

• 

These chips are the same brand as the tortillas and I have found these at my local grocery store. $4.99

• 

A new Plantain Chip find! $5.99, so I’ll ration these (that means hide them!)

• 

Chicken Salad Wrap and Chips, Paleo style.

Giving up sugar doesn’t mean sacrificing sweet treats. These little balls are great with a cup of coffee in the morning or herbal tea in the evening after dinner.

• 

These are crunchy and sweet. The only ingredients is the fruit and cinnamon. Not low in smartpoints but crunchy and sweet enough that I’m satisfied before I go too far with these.

Sometimes a girl wants a dang pancake! Add water and go! These are available pretty much everywhere and make for a great breakfast when I’ve got that carb craving. I feel like pancakes take on the flavor of whatever you choose to top them with. I love to put blueberries in the microwave for a minute or two and watch them explode (I’m not exaggerating) into blueberry syrup! That and a drizzle of almond butter? Add banana slices? I think this is my next meal.

• 

I’ll be trying white asparagus for the first time today. I feel like I’ve seen it before but I don’t remember cooking it.

Have you had it? Should I roast it? Grill it? Steam it? Eat it raw dipped in my Dump Ranch?Hmmmm……

I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.

I’d love to hear what you’re having for your Thanksgiving meal this year, no matter where you may be when you sit down for that meal.

What are you cooking?

What is your favorite dish to eat?

What is a family tradition?

Hang in there friends. This crazy year is nearing an end and with a positive attitude, we will all get through this.

Take good care of yourselves. This year more than ever!

“love the life you live, live the life you love”