Spaghetti squash with meat sauce

After a busy morning of cleaning inside and out, gardening, and general Trevor chasing, I had no time for a complicated lunch menu. This clean, healthy, and satisfying meal is ready in 15 minutes, and the best part is that I will also have leftovers for three days of lunch at school! This is a family friendly meal, but I admit that no one shared it me today. Bill was out doing errands and picked up his own thing, and Trevor has been on a turkey sandwich kick that's just not worth fighting. However, he has enjoyed this meal for dinner on many occasions.



Here's how:
1. Cut in half and start the squash in the microwave for 14 minutes after scooping out the seeds. I get the best results when I cook only half at a time so that it can lay flat.
2. Brown ground turkey adding your favorite spices- Italian seasoning, garlic salt, minced onion.
3. Drain extra liquid from meat and add a jar of clean spaghetti sauce. Clean sauce means that it has only recognizable ingredients and no sugar.
4. By now the squash is ready. Use a fork to scrape the sides and transfer to serving dish. I usually get two servings from each half of the squash, total of four.
5. Top with parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Fun and easy oatmeal cookies

Probably the simplest cookies you will ever make in your lifetime! Mix the first two ingredients- 1 cup oatmeal and one banana (I actually used one and a half bananas), using your hands to squish it all together. This was Trevor's favorite part. Add chips or raisins, your choice, and drop spoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees. I let them cool in the fridge to save them for dessert, and they were a huge hit! This recipe makes only 6 cookies, perfect for my small family.

Creamy buffalo chicken soup

When I saw this recipe, I knew immediately I'd have to try it. You see, Bill is a huge wing fan. I'd say it's his favorite food, though he probably wouldn't admit that. He has been such a good sport about trying new dishes since I started the whole Clean Eating thing, and this one was definitely for him. It might not be entirely clean, hello Frank's Red Hot Sauce, but it's close enough. I doubled the veggies and used whole wheat noodles and light cream, otherwise followed the recipe as given. It was really easy, and we both liked it. I expect the leftovers will be even tastier than the first time around:)

Honey soy chicken

OMG!! This was so easy, cheap, and Yummy! You'd think we would have had leftovers with a small family of three, but not this time. Everyone had seconds, or thirds. I served it over cauliflower rice which was perfect to soak up the amazing sauce. This recipe is definitely going into the regular rotation! The one thing I suggest changing is trading olive oil for vegetable oil in order to keep it clean:)

Nana's slow cooker rump roast

OK, truth be told this recipe doesn't come from my grandmother, but while eating it I felt like I was traveling back in time to childhood meals at Nana and David's. Yum! She would be proud of this one, and I bet my method of making it in the slow cooker is so much easier than anything she ever made;) I followed the recipe, so even thought I forgot to include the stick of butter in the photo I did not forge to include it in the sauce. I also added a sliced onion and carrots to the mix for the last two hours of slow cooking. Everyone loved it and wanted more, including Trevor. Bill even agreed that this would be something great to make when we have company. It needs dinner rolls or some cauliflower rice to soak up all that good sauce. I'm excited for the leftovers tomorrow!

Broccoli chicken mac and cheese

Why this recipe? Because everyone in my family LOVES macaroni and cheese, and I'm still searching for the best way to clean it up and make it a healthy meal. This may very well be the one I've been waiting for, though you know I did make a few adjustments:

• Use less pasta to make room for more broccoli and chicken. I used about 7oz of pasta and the whole package of chicken and
  bag of steamed broccoli. 
• Steam the broccoli for about a minute less that suggested, otherwise it will fall apart when you stir it all together. 
• Use about twice the suggested amount of Greek Yogurt.
• Use whole wheat flour instead of all purpose.

Parmesan zucchini spaghetti squash with pine nuts

I followed this recipe pretty closely, however I added sliced chicken because I wanted to have it as a meal, This way I would have complete lunches with the leftovers. Also, I used shaved parmesan instead of shredded, which wasn't the best idea. Some bites were cheesy, but others were not. Grated would have been more evenly distributed.
 I did like it, but I admit that I missed tomato sauce. I think it's an addiction or something! Maybe add some pepper flakes if you like things on the spicy side.