Roasted Butternut Squash with Rosemary Chicken, Eggplant and Zucchini

This is a recipe I made recently, using both store bought vegetables and vegetables from my local farmers market. I even used rosemary fresh from my garden! It is a perfect meal for any time of the year, and is not heavy or rough or your stomach.

Roasted Butternut Squash with Rosemary Chicken, Eggplant and Zucchini 

Yields 2-3 servings

2 chicken breasts (or about ½-1 lb chicken breast tenders)

1 medium butternut squash

1 large zucchini

¼ cup red onion, diced

½ cup sweet green pepper, diced

¾ cup eggplant, chunked

2 small tomatoes, diced

2 handfuls of mixed greens (I used kale and collard greens)

1 TSP + ½ TBSP garlic powder, divided

1 TSP+ ½ TBSP ground black pepper, divided

¼ cup + ½ cup unsalted vegetable or chicken stock, divided

3 twigs fresh rosemary 

½ cup sweet tomato hot sauce (optional)

1        TBSP coconut oil

1)      Slice the butternut squash in half. Sprinkle with divided TSP garlic powder and TSP black pepper. Bake in oven at 450 for about 25 minutes, or until soft.

2)      In the mean time, prepare your chicken. Toss it with the rest of the garlic and pepper, half the amount of fresh rosemary, and ¼ cup stock. Cover and let sit in fridge until needed.

3)      Melt coconut oil over medium high heat in a large pan. Sautee the onion and bell pepper until soft, about 3 minutes

.

4)      Add the diced eggplant and sauté another 4 minutes.

5)      Add the tomato and zucchini to the mix for about 4 minutes.

6)      Make room in the pan to add your chicken. Place the chicken in, along with any extra marinade.

7)      Add the rest of the stock, and place the rest of the rosemary directly on the chicken. Cover until the chicken is nearly cooked.

8)      Add the sweet salsa (optional) and greens. Cover and let wilt, about 5 minutes.

9)      Reduce heat, and serve by filling your butternut squash half with the mixture. Enjoy!

These butternut squashes were AWESOME coming from the farmers market! I thought that I did not like butternut squash, until I had these. Store bought always seem tasteless. I am so glad I got these (for a bargain price too;) )... they've turned me into a fan !

Do you taste the difference between farmers market produce and store produce?
What have you been cooking lately?

Natalie 

Once You Go Crockpot, You Never Go Back

FYI GUYS... DONT FORGET TO ENTER THE HEMP HEART GIVEAWAY!!
ALSO, PARTICIPATE IN THE "No Excuse November Challenge!" 

You might have noticed my increased recipes using the crockpot lately. I really can't help it... it's just the PERFECT time of year to use it!

I've really been craving some lentils lately, so I decided I would try the Lentil Quinoa in the crockpot.

Oh. My. Good. Heavens. 

The DIFFERENCE! I mean, the stove top version is fantastic. Don't get me wrong.

But like in my chicken recipe, the tomato paste turns sweet and creamy! The lentils and quinoa also get to simmer and soak the liquid up longer. They're "creamy" to, in a way... the quinoa nice and fluffy.

The only things I did different were that this time, as I sauteed my veggies (I sauteed the onion, bell pepper, celery, and cabbage), I added some fresh ginger. I also sauteed some coriander seeds and herb de province with the veggies before transferring to the crock pot with the lentils and uncooked quinoa, carrots, and squash.

Also, I added the greens (kale) about an hour and a half before serving. I had put the mix on "high" this morning, and it stayed that way for around 7 hours. Then I got home, turned it to low and added the kale, and left for a doctors appointment. I returned an hour or so later to AMAZINGNESS.

Seriously! So simple. It is amazing how flavors can bloom in different ways. One of the many reasons I love to cook :)

After eating, my sister and I took a walk around the neighborhood... it's getting chilly here in Texas! (Say Whaaat?)

Please excuse my ugly flip flops!

Seriously guys. Once you go crockpot... you never EVER go back!

What slow cooking creations have you made lately?

Natalie

I'm A Contributor on Real Food Recipe Roundup!

Hey guys!! I have AWESOME, exciting news to share!!

The wonderful Kathy over at Simple Clean Living  recently told me about her website, Real Food Recipe Roundup and asked if I would like to be a part of it. Of course I was honored, and said YES!!

Image directly from Real Food Recipe Roundup home page.

Basically, the community is a collection of healthy, REAL FOOD recipes from a variety of health bloggers. Straight from the "About" page:

'My goal is to have hundreds of real food bloggers and thousands of amazing and tasty real food recipes gathered here for you to gain inspiration from, to help you create meal plans from and to make real food so much easier!"

How awesome is that?! 

I am so humbled to take part in this awesome community, and really look forward to seeing other yummy and healthy recipes posted from other bloggers as well! 

So go ahead, take a look at the site here! Oh, and also peek at the Contributors page, to not only see me, but the other lovely bloggers as well. My stomach gets butterflies when I see my face on there! 

Thank you again Kathy for having me on your website!! 

Natalie