Butternut Squash & Spinach Pasta

There's something about a great pasta dish that I find super comforting at the end of a long day. I love the below recipe because it includes plenty of hearty veggies so you can indulge a little without the guilt. Big thanks to Sam Owades for this inspired recipe :)

Butternut Squash: No surprise here, but I get excited when Butternut Squash comes back in season and I get to make some of my favorite recipes! It's high in fiber (helps with heart health), Contains B6 (needed for proper function of our nervous and immune systems), and has a significant amount of potassium (a mineral that is needed for proper function of literally every single cell in your body-that's pretty cool).

Spinach: Spinach is packed with nutritional benefits: It's loaded with phytonutrients that are necessary for healthy vision. It also contains Vitamin E which helps to stimulate the immune system and keep brain cells healthy by eliminating free-radicals. And then of course there's the high iron content (known for boosting Popeye's strength). Iron is needed for hemoglobin production and hemoglobin is a major component of energy.

Butternut Squash & Spinach Papardelle

• 2 Medium Butternut Squash Cubed (approx 1/2 in)
• 2 Medium Sweet Onions Coarsely Chopped
• 1 tbsp Garlic Chopped
• 1 Bag Fresh Spinach
• 6 Oz. Goat Cheese (1 small log)
• 3/4 Lb Pasta (Papardalle or Tube works best)

Toss Squash, Onion & Garlic in Olive Oil so there's a thin coat and add Salt & Pepper to taste. Place squash mixture in a large skillet over medium high heat and saute until soft (approx 15 minutes). Stir frequently.

While squash sautes, bring a pot of water to boil and cook pasta per package directions.

When the squash is done, place in large serving dish. Add about a quarter of the goat cheese at a time until the squash is evenly covered but not heavily. Add fresh spinach to squash mixture and gently toss so spinach begins to wilt. Lastly, add cooked pasta and give on last toss and enjoy!

Sources: The 3-Day Cleanse, by Zoe Sakoutis and Erica Huss

Butternut Squash Soup With A Kick

There's nothing I love more than a hot bowl of soup for dinner on a cold fall or winter night- the below Butternut Squash Soup is super satisfying, low in calories, and has an awesome kick that will warm you up from the inside out!

Butternut Squash is very high in Vitamin A which helps keep your eyes healthy and has antioxidant properties that help neutralize free-radicals in the body that can cause tissue & cellular damage. Butternut squash is also a good source of potassium (for healthy bones) and dietary fiber (supports a healthy heart).
Butternut squash is also a great source of beta-carotene, a nutrient that promotes heart health. This is actually pretty cool- Beta-carotene helps prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body. Since oxidized cholesterol is the type that builds up in blood vessel walls and contributes to the risk of heart attack and stroke, getting enough of this nutrient can help with prevention of heart disease and stroke. (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=63) Kind of awesome right? So this soup is both delicious AND healthy


Butternut Squash Soup w/ a Kick

1 bag frozen butternut squash
2 cups chix broth (veggie broth to make this vegan)
2-3 tbsp grated ginger (or more for even more heat)
1 clove minced garlic
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp curry powder
1/4 cup lite coconut milk
Salt & Pepper to taste

Bring 2 cups chicken broth to a boil, add in frozen butternut squash, ginger, garlic, brown sugar, cinnamon, curry, & cocnut milk and reduce heat to low salt & pepper to taste. Let simmer for 25 mins. Puree either in a blender or using an immersion blender in the pot. Serve in bowls & sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon for garnish & enjoy!!

(This recipe is super fun to play around with. I personally LOVE ginger-no surprise there- so i add 1 or 2 more tbsp of ginger for more spice. Play around with whatever spices you have in your kitchen at that time- cloves, red pepper, nutmeg all could work. If you like a thick soup, add more squash & less broth... This soup is completely adaptable to anyone's individual tastes- get a friend or two together and have some fun cooking it!)