I’m gaga for gourds, so it’s another delicata-licous day in the neighborhood. This week’s meal prep is a DELICATA KALE SALAD with TRI-COLOR QUINOA, ROASTED CHICKPEAS, POMEGRANATE SEEDS and GOAT CHEESE. I’m a huge fan of cook once, eat twice, so this week’s blog is a double header! Not only does delicata delight this salad, but it also makes for an easy Whole30-approved breakfast as DELICATA EGG SLIDERS. Find the dEATs on both, below!

Every year it seems like there’s another en vogue gourd. And guaranteed, I’ll gobble them all up. This year, it’s the Delicata, a winter squash that goes by a breadth of other names including sweet potato squash (for its sweet flavor) and peanut squash (for its shape only). “Delicata” actually means “delicate” in Italian, which is meant to describe the soft rind, which is also edible. It’s one of the reasons I’ve grown to love Delicata after far too many struggles peeling the butternut squashes of the world. And, these lovely halos of gold roast in 15 minutes!

To prep this pretty gourd, all you need is a sharp flat-edge knife, a spoon and a cutting board. Simply cut the gourd in half cross-wise, then lay the cut side of the cutting board. Then slice each half horizontally into 1″ slices. Once sliced into discs as shown above, use a spoon to remove the seeds. I like to press the tip of the spoon perpendicular to the squash around the edges of the center to cut out a small circle. Once you form an impression of a circle, the center should pop out with a little coaxing. No peeling and you’re ready to get your roast on!

The next component of this salad that is a bit tricky, but totally worthwhile, is de-seeding the pomegranate. There are oodles of methods on the interweb, but my preferred method is to submerge the entire pomegranate in a large bowl. Next, cut the pomegranate into quarters while holding it submerged in the water. This ensures that any juices go into the water and don’t stain your counter top or cutting board. Next, use your hands to gently peel the seeds away from the pith with the quarters still submerged. This has dual benefits: 1.) again, the juices won’t stain your kitchen or clothing when you accidentally burst a seed and 2.) the seeds will sink while the pith will float. This allows you to easily scoop up the pith from the surface of the water to throw it away. Afterwards, you can freely scoop up the seeds from the bottom of the water. The juicy seeds are ready to pop like candy into your mouth!

This week is all about simplification and maximizing your time. So, the hard parts are over and now you’re ready to make two amazing meals that are healthy, delicious and festive for holiday guests!

DELICATA KALE SALAD
with TRI-COLOR QUINOA, ROASTED CHICKPEAS, POMEGRANATE & GOAT CHEESE
Serves: 3-4 (if using 2 Delicata squash)

Ingredients:
-2 Delicata squash, sliced into 1-inch rounds as shown
-1 bunch of Lacinato kale, ribs removed & roughly torn
-1 pomegranate with seeds removed
-1 C of crumbled goat cheese
-1 package of roasted chickpeas like Biena brand (or 1 C of garbanzo beans if roasting your own, as noted below)
-1/2 C of quinoa, rinsed
-1 C of vegetable broth (or water)
-your favorite dressing

Directions:
Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees Farenheit. Drizzle olive oil on a large sheet pan and place the squash rounds in a single layer on the pan. Drizzle with additional olive oil using your finger to ensure the surface is fully coated to get a nice golden crisp and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in the oven for 15 minutes.
Step 2: While the squash roasts, make the quinoa by adding the vegetable broth or water to a small sauce pan over medium heat on the stove top. Once boiling, add the rinsed quinoa, reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer covered for 15 minutes, or until the liquid is dissolved and the quinoa is light and fluffy. Remove the quinoa from the heat, sprinkle with salt and pepper and fluff with a fork.
Step 3: If roasting your own chickpeas, drain and rinse the can of garbanzo beans. Place the beans on a stack of paper towels and gently dab to remove as much moisture as possible. Once the Delicata is roasted, set the rounds of squash on another dish and re-use the sheet pan. Turn the heat up on the oven to 450 degrees Farenheit. Drizzle the pan with olive oil before placing the beans on the sheet pan in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and optional cayenne pepper to taste. Toss to coat. Roast for 30-40 minutes or until browned and crunchy.
Step 4: Assemble the salad by placing the torn Lacinato kale in a large bowl. Toss with your favorite dressing if consuming immediately, like this Michigan Apple Balsamic from Here brand. Option to cut the squash rings in half. Add all of the remaining toppings to the salad (roasted chickpeas, cooked quinoa, pomegranate seeds and goat cheese).

DELICATA EGG SLIDERS
Serves: 6

Ingredients:
-2 Delicata squash, sliced into 1-inch rounds as shown
-12 pasture-raised eggs such as those from Vital Farms
-Salt, pepper and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-optional fresh parsley and Parmesan*

*Recipe is both Whole30 and Low FODMAP if Parmesan is excluded.

Directions:
Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees Farenheit. Drizzle olive oil on a large sheet pan and place the squash rounds in a single layer on the pan. Drizzle with additional olive oil using your finger to ensure the surface is fully coated to get a nice golden crisp and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in the oven for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Remove the squash from the oven and flip over the squash rounds. Crack an egg in the center of each ring and sprinkle with additional salt and pepper. Place back in the oven for 15-20 minutes, depending on how done you like your eggs.
Step 3: Remove the pan from the oven and option to garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan. Serve two slices each on their own, with a grain such as quinoa or with additional roasted veggies like brussel sprouts.

I love the simplicity and veggie forward nature of both of these dishes! Roasting the squash in advance can also make these both quick weekday meals. Hope you enjoy!

The post Delicata-licious appeared first on The Shooks Life.

5-ingredient muffins that are human and pup friendly? Yup, these GRAIN FREE BANANA MUFFINS are a dream come true for furry friends and furparents alike. And who needs frosting when you have homemade STRAWBERRY CHIA JAM? Save that good stuff for the pawrents, furbabes will gobble these up with or without jam. Impress all your fur-lovin’ friends by making these for your next brunch or furbaby party. Get the dEATs below!

I’ll admit, this masterful creation is all thanks to the hubs. They’re grain-free, clean ingredient muffins that are made with just a few simple ingredients: bananas, eggs, nut butter, coconut flour and baking soda. The hubs concocted this recipe while looking for:

1.) Paleo approved breakfast recipes that weren’t eggs (because who has time for that during the week?)
2.) Pupcake recipes for our bully’s bday (he’s grain free – so high maintenance!)

After many iterations, these have reached…perfection. It’s hard to say who loves them more, Jeb or Moose? And sometimes…they even share with me. Especially when I make my homemade strawberry chia jam to accompany these high protein muffins.

The jam is also surprisingly easy to make. So much so, that I sometimes wonder why I buy the stuff loaded with cane sugar – especially when fresh berries are so cheap in the summertime. It’s a great way to use up berries that are almost past their prime (you know, the ones you forgot about in the back of the fridge).

Note: While fresh strawberries are ok for your pups, your dog friends will probably enjoy the muffins just as much on their own. Think of the jam as a human treat – while not toxic to your pups, it’s also unnecessary to please your fur friends.

For reference though, here are a few of the fresh fruits that are safe for your loving pups according to the American Kennel Club.

Pup Safe Fresh Fruits:
-Strawberries
-Bananas
-Apples
-Blueberries
-Cantaloupe
-Cranberries
-Mangos
-Oranges
-Peaches
-Pears
-Pineapple
-Raspberries

When introducing new foods to your pup, always start with small amounts. Each dog is different. While the above may be safe for most dogs, just like humans, dogs can have unique z(in)tolerances to various foods. If your dog exhibits signs such as red eyes, itchiness or excessive drooling after eating new foods, make sure to contact your vet. When in doubt, be safe!

Moose loves these pupcakes and I hope you do too!

5-Ingredient Gluten Free Banana Muffins (Pet-Friendly) with Strawberry Chia Jam
Makes: 6 Muffins

Ingredients:
Muffins
-3 eggs
-9 T peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter)
-2 bananas, mashed
-1-2 T coconut flour*
-1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Strawberry Chia Jam
-3 1/2 C strawberries, quartered
-4 T maple syrup*
-2 T chia seeds
-squeeze of lemon juice

Directions:
Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Farhenheit. To make the muffin batter, mix all of the muffin ingredients in a medium mixing bowl until smooth. Grease a muffin tin or use silicone muffin cups. Pour the batter into the muffin tin or cups.
Step 2: Bake the muffins by placing in the oven for 20 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for a few minutes before removing from the baking tin or cups.
Step 3: While the muffins cool, make the strawberry chia jam. Add the strawberries and maple syrup (or date syrup) to a small pot over medium heat on the stove top. Stir to combine and continue heating until bubbling. Once bubbling, mash the strawberries, then add the chia seeds. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. Remove from heat and give it a squeeze of lemon. Allow to cool, then spread away!

Hope you and your pup enjoy these as much as we did!

*If Whole30 or Paleo, consider 1.) skipping the maple syrup or 2.) making a date syrup by processing 1 C of Medjool dates with 1 C of water and a 1/2 tsp salt.

The post Morning Muffins For Humans & Furbabies appeared first on The Shooks Life.